Slogans, posters, wall writings, speeches and rallies are part of the ongoing election process in Kolkata now. But, oblivious to all these hustle and bustle of election cacophony, the eastern metropolis sticks to its unique characteristic. The ‘other’ Kolkata.
Theatre goes on, despite the laments of decay and diminishing standards. A poster announcing availability of space for rehearsal may be unique to this city — status debatable — of joy — or dying.
At least half a dozen theatre halls within two square kilometre area in the heart of the city explain the passion of its people bearing multiple blames of being lethargic and non-entrepreneurial. Over a dozen theatre groups have put up posters about their forthcoming productions.
A popular hang-out for art and theatre lovers, cheap and quick “Jhaal Muri” serves as filler and time killer too.
Severely hit by economic crisis as well as corona pandemic, amateur theatre groups have started sharing auditorium rentals and time slots too.
Not just that. There was recently a two-day theatre book fair, exclusively for books on theatre. True, it was held on the footpath outside an old theatre hall but there were visitors who bought books of theatre, on theatre and by people important for theatre.
Had there ever been an exclusive theatre book fair anywhere else? In India or abroad? The organiser has no answer. Probably not, he hazards a guess. Though very small — just two stalls — the book fair serves as an important link between playwrights all over and theatre enthusiasts eagerly looking for new scripts, he said.
Elsewhere in the city, devotees continue to take their dip in the Ganga with setting sun as the backdrop.
Just about 20 minutes later, fishermen pull up their nets of evening catch as the surface water cools off.
Out of power for a decade, the CPI-M’s daily newspaper ‘Ganashakti’ remains pasted on bamboo board of the neighbourhood but what a local resident reads are text messages on his cell phone.
Presence of four more people on other side of the bamboo board makes this lensman hesitant to click. Quietly, he readies the camera, takes the lid off, aims and clicks twice — but no one notices as they did not take their sights off the screens of their cell phones.
A testimony to the city’s unique blend of old and new is co-existence of the century old cathedral and the ultra modern 65-storey building, both reflected from a well conserved pond inside the cultural complex having three theatre halls, two film auditoria and two art galleries.
On the other side, art lovers have turned a dried up tree into a sculpture that refuses to give up. The city too never gives up.
A street theatre ends at the venue of a painting exhibition on 50 years of Bangladesh and centenary of Mujibur Rehman. Minutes later, spectators drop money to endorse that such shows must go on.
*Rathin Das is a senior journalist and an acclaimed photographer
