Sept 9, Soldier's Silence by Hartman D'souza

My friend Ashutosh informed me about this play by Hartman D'souza. The Play depicts one soldier and a militant from America and Iraq respectively. The invasion of Iraq and the war crimes, tortures done to the militants play as the background story and its aftermath is shown in the play as the dialogue between two men who find themselves at the airport at Bangalore where there is no electricity. Typical 'Indian'(Bharitya?) thing.

I put it on Whatsapp status and as well as on Instagram story for people in my contacts to come and watch the play with me. But as dormant as they are, nobody replied. I went along with my journalist friend who is an enthusiast of films and theatre, and of course we had decided it a day before.

So, I reached there, and he had bought the ticket already, for both of us. And after some time the play started with a lovely voice of a lady(who turned out to be friend of my teacher from Gandhian and Peace Studies Course), who also announced the flight departure details during the play. The play started with an Iraqi man sitting in a chair, who is joined by an American guy soon. The scene is of the airport apparently and there is no light(or very low light). A conversation ensues and it goes from complaint about the temperature by the American to what both of them would prefer at that time and their lives, their constant struggle to keep up as both of them seemed to be 'handicapped' to some extent. The conversation shifts to the existence of god after some time. Both of them, consciously or unconsciously, believe in determinism, as is told by the American that his grandmother used to sing 'Que sera! Sera!' and his affection to her grandmother and of the Iraqi the belief in Allah and his determining what is good for the people. The Iraqi in good faith asks the American to pray to the God. Which is laughed off by the American, he has had done his prayers in the past and god hadn't replied to him. But towards the end he does pray and lights come when the climax comes. In the end the American is left with some questions(which, even before the end he didn't seem to be concerned with).

I would really suggest you to watch this play if it is shown anywhere nearby you. The acting is realllllly good and the accent is superbly done. The two actors, Sahej and Sardana are brilliant. Sound and lighting were good as well. Please be seated in the front if it's a mini auditorium with stage at an improper angle.

 

 

 

 After the play we went to sector 15 and had tea, talked about fiction and film, and left for our destinations.