Experience of watching drama at Mandala Theatre
Dramatic situations !!😂
I am very fond of watching live drama at the theatre. Mandala Theatre in Kathmandu, Nepal, has been a place I have wanted to visit several times, but I was unable to manage my time. On 12th January 2025, I finally got the chance to watch a drama named Hari Hajurba. It was the last show of the play, and I was fortunate to get a ticket a day before from the box office. On 11th January, I went to check if I could get a ticket for that day, but it wasn’t possible. As a result, I had to buy a ticket at a premium price for the following day. I went alone on the 12th, arriving 45 minutes early and unsure how to pass the time while waiting for the play to start. During that time, I captured some videos and photos that I would like to share here:
I supported to capture few photos of a group as requested by them for which I also asked them to capture a photo of mine. This is basically a give and take between us. But I claim I got more benefit as they were in group and I was single. I had no other option except either asking unknown person for help or take a selfie. This all happened after the end of the play and outside the theatre hall.
Najir Husen as Hartakarta 😜
Najir Husen was the mastermind of the play Hari Hajurba. He wrote the story, directed the play and acted as one of the main character in the role of Hari. The popular actor Bijay Baral played as Hajurba. The person doing Namaste in the below picture is Najir Husen. In fact, it was not allowed to capture photos or videos inside the theatre hall during the act, but I could capture some beautiful moments after the end of the play in the wrapping up session. In the session, popular actors, poets and many other great personalities were present and some of them shared their experiences.
Bijay Baral as Baa of Purnabahadurko Sarangi and Hajurba of the Hari Hajurba
Hari as a postman becomes a close friend of Hajurba in the play. Look at the picture below. Don't they seem as good friends?
Bijay Baral was outstanding as always in the act. His recent movie 'Purnabahadurko Sarangi' was blockbuster movie which helped to transform and popularize him as a lead character in Nepali movie. The movie earned crores of rupees in more than 51 days in the cinema halls in Nepal and in foreign land. In fact, Purnabahadurko Sarangi brought revolution in Nepalese cinema history and destroyed all the taboos about Nepalese cinema industry. If good story is served through realistic acting, Nepalese movies can be blockbusters as the Sarangi movie.
The summary of the play Hari Hajurba paraphrased from the original one from the website of Mandala Theatre:
A wandering postman, delivering letters from a bygone era, crosses paths with an elderly man trapped in bitterness and isolation, spending his days glued to the radio, desperately hoping for news of his granddaughter, who was taken during the conflict. Through the postman’s small but meaningful gestures of kindness, the old man’s guarded heart begins to open, and memories of the war gradually resurface, intertwining their lives in unforeseen ways.
However, as the past resurfaces, so do its dark shadows, transforming their journey of connection into something more haunting. Bound by a shared tragedy, the postman and the elderly man come to realize their fates are strangely connected. Amid the silence of letters never sent and questions left unanswered, the story delves into themes of loss, memory, and the lingering burden of the unresolved.
As their bond grows, it unveils the profound weight of grief and the universal desire for closure. Through the evocative presence of a masked chorus and echoes of lives lost to war, the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, unraveling a deeply moving exploration of those left behind, struggling with absence and yearning for resolution.
Closing session
The popular artists Dayahang Rai and Buddi Tamang also attended the wrap up session. Both represented as producers of the play. I came to know from the website that both of them are the crucial members of the Mandala Theatre as well. I always admire the simplicity of Dayahang Rai and like his thought process. I always try to watch his movies and do not want to miss anyone. The recent movie Gau Aayeko Bato was so outstanding which exposed the dirty reality of developmental changes like new road to the village - how the road ruined the local entrepreneurship and local economy.
The famous poet Biplov Pratik delivered short speech upon request from the organizing committee.
Hats off to the actors
Coming back to the drama, Hari Hajurba is an outstanding play by these renowned actors along with some new faces. Although the actors have already jumped into the cinema, they are rooted in the theatrical history. By continuing theatre acting, they have kept their originality intact and are following what their inner instinct says. Otherwise, why they need to spend time in such a laborious jobs like acting day to day in theatre if they have already so many offers for acting in cinemas?
I want to salute their spirit and learn from them as well.
My final thoughts (but are not thought-provoking😀)
I wanted to end here with my promise to continue watching the plays in Mandala Theatre or any other ones. I am passionate about my next watch at the theatre. I know a new play 'Mukkumlung' is being played at Mandala and I hope I can manage my time to watch this time with my family members.
I will continue writing blogs in the subjects like this as and when I get time.
Cheers !
******************
Comments
Post a Comment