Lounge
‘Silvatein’: A play that looks at everyday feminism
Summary
The play is an exploration of unspoken emotional labour that many women perform in intimate relationships
There is been a resurgence in conversations around regressive patriarchal traditions in relationships with the streaming of Mrs.—the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film, The Great Indian Kitchen. Silvatein, a play by Bengaluru-based theatre director and playwright Shatarupa Bhattacharyya, is especially relevant in this context.
Through the production, she explores the complex web of intimate relationships. This one act Hindi play, which has been staged in her home city and in Alwar, Rajasthan, revolves around the meeting of ex lovers, Rupali and Arjit.
The play, which has had 11 shows so far, is being hailed for its nuanced depiction of everyday feminism. According to Bhattacharyya, this concept is not something she learnt from books, but from conversations with her mother, grandmother, aunt, and sisters. She wanted to look at how everyday feminism plays out in daily lives. For instance, Rupali questions why cooking and homemaking are not considered as disciplines imbued with a knowledge bank of their own. “We only talk about patriarchy in an exterior world. We do not really highlight the interior world," adds Bhattacharya.
In fact, the idea for Silvatein emerged from Bhattacharyya’s personal experience of a past relationship. “I was always seeking an outlet for portraying these unexpressed emotions. Theatre was the obvious choice because I have been doing it for so long. I decided to write a story which talks about these unsettling feelings and its different aspects," she explains. The play became an exploration of unspoken emotional labour that many women perform in intimate relationships, especially within a strict patriarchal structure.
Also read: How Bengaluru's traditional gardens have adapted to a busy city landscape
When Bhattacharyya began writing the play, she initially thought that it would be a cathartic moment. But as she went along, the play started taking a structure, which focused on the silences women endure and the fractures they suppress in marriages—these often remain hidden beneath social norms. “I wanted to explore the theme of loneliness and emotional distance, and it was from there the play progressed," says Bhattacharyya, who wrote the play in English that was translated to Hindi by Puneet Gupta.
The subject of loneliness in relationships threw up many questions. “Why does someone feel lonely despite physical proximity with their partner? How do characters experience a deep emotional disconnect? How can individuals feel isolated even in the closest of bonds? These were some of the unspoken emotions, unmet expectations, miscommunications that are portrayed in the play," says Bhattacharyya.
The play also focuses on gender dynamics. At the start of the play, for instance, Rupali comes across as gullible, vulnerable and unsure of herself. But eventually, she turns out to be the absolute opposite. On the other hand, Arijit comes across as flamboyant, confident, and someone who doesn't really care about the point of view of the other gender. In one scene, Rupali tries to say something when Arijit interrupts and starts talking about his own story. “This shows we don't want to listen to each other even in intimate relationships. We just want to talk," she adds.
Also read: ‘The Diplomat’ review: Escape from Islamabad
The set design plays an important role in shaping the narrative of the play. Bhattacharyya gives the entire credit to Puneet Gupta. “We wanted the set to reflect the characters’ personalities and their unspoken words, which is why the set is made up of grim colours of black, white, green, and yellow. We also included various aspects of memories in the set, which are depicted in the form of unwrapping and wrapping gifts," she elaborates. So, there are boxes which get opened and boxes that get closed. String also has been used to symbolise Rupali’s emotional entanglement.
While Bhattacharyya has received positive reactions to the play, there have been some mixed reviews as well. “We had a wonderful audience in Alwar in Rajasthan. It was incredible to see older men reacting positively to the play," she says.
