Based on Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, the Bengali play Khelaghar is a narrative of the timeless plight of women. The play revolves around Neera, the wife of Tamonash, who comes to realize the overwhelming dominance of a male-dominated society. This startling realization eventually compels her to abandon the house of domestic life built by patriarchy.
At one point, Neera had secretly borrowed a large sum of money from Kalika to save Tamonash's life. She was slowly paying it back. At that time, Tamonash was a part-time lecturer, though he is now a permanent professor. Kalika, a clerk in the same college, is currently accused of embezzling college funds and is facing inevitable dismissal. Kalika knows that Tamonash could save him if he wanted to, so he turns to Neera for help. He reminds her of the past loan and asks her to influence Tamonash to support him. However, Neera cannot compromise with such injustice and refuses to endanger Tamonash's honor, even by a fraction. Realizing that pleas won't work, Kalika resorts to threats, revealing that Neera forged her father's signature when taking the loan, a criminal act unknown to Tamonash. Neera, distressed, confides in her friend Kaberi, who advises her to tell Tamonash everything. Initially, Neera is terrified, knowing Tamonash would never accept such wrongdoing. Though she resolves to confess, she finds herself unable to do so. However, Tamonash eventually learns the truth through a letter from Kalika. His cold disdain and silent contempt wound Neera deeply. He demands reparation for this perceived betrayal. In the end, Neera realizes that she has been living as nothing more than a decorative doll in a well-maintained playhouse, with Tamonash never truly deserving of her love. This awakening leads her to seek a path of self-discovery, the path of a free and independent person.
Thus, Neera ultimately abandons her household, her husband, and even her children, believing that this sacrifice is the only path to true liberation.
Cast:
- Neera: Chaiti Ghoshal
- Kaberi: Suparna Das
- Kalika: Subhasish Chakraborty
- Dr. Rakshit: Biplab Bandyopadhyay
- Tamonash: Debshankar Halder
Crew:
•Playwright: Henrick Ibsen
•Adaptor: Ratan Kumar Das
•Direction: Biplab Bandyopadhyay
•Nomenclature: Biswanath Dey
•Light: Deblina Roy
•Sound Design: Dishari Chakraborty
•Sound Projection: Mrinal Baur
•Makeup: Sheikh Israfil
•Set: Ranjit Deb
•Voice: Kakoli Mukhopadhyay
•Artwork: Manas Das
•Craftsman: Dulal Chandra Majumdar
•Costume: Bhaswati Mukherjee, Aparajita Nandi
•Requisition: Jhumur Saha
•Poster Designer: Mrinmoy Chakraborty
•Production Assistants: Shatadal Chakraborty, Ronit Dey