representationalist
From the Iliad to the Mahabharata, women have often been wrongly portrayed as instigators of war. Atul Kumar’s Amba challenges this flawed notion and turns it upside down. Inspired by Aristophanes’ 5th-century BC comedy Lysistrata, this satirical play has been reimagined for a contemporary audience. While Lysistrata shows women coming together to end the decades-long Peloponnesian War between the city-states of Athens and Sparta in ancient Greece, Kumar’s adaptation leaves its time and place unspecified, keeping the play extremely relevant and universal.
In both the original play and its adaptation, the women have agency and a strong voice, fully aware of gender power dynamics. To end the bloodshed and warmongering, they devise an unusual strategy: depriving their comrades of sexual intimacy until the men lay down their weapons and adopt a permanent peace. In doing so, the play explores complex themes, including masculine pride, male ego, and deep-rooted patriarchy. However, the 90-minute play maintains a light mood through playful, risqué dialogues presented in a mix of Hindi and Bundeli.
Kamna Pathak as Amba is impressive and so are the rest of the cast. In addition to its subject matter, Amba also draws on the ‘old comedy’ tradition of Lysistrata, also known as Aristophanic comedy – a genre characterized by spirited criticism of public affairs through song, dance and buffoonery.
The play’s white costumes and set design cleverly bring out the central message of peace. In the climactic scene, the stage is bathed in soft pink, achieved through effective lighting that subtly highlights the union of masculine and feminine energies, culminating in a final scene where the futility of war and the all-consuming power of love and passion resonate most deeply.
Produced by D for Drama, Amba marked the beginning of the Meta Theater Festival at Kamani Auditorium, Delhi, running from 19 to 25 March.
