The play ‘Parchhaaee, Amrita Aur Imroz Ki' on Amrita Pritam and Imroz explores platonic love on stage
Element of fiction
'The script incorporates letters written by them to each other and also poems written by me on behalf of Amrita,' says 64-year-old Suhas, who plays Imroz in the play. Suhas conceived the play in 2020 while writing poems about Amrita Pritam. Drawn to their story, he developed it into a full-fledged production and decided it was a case of 'now or never'. 'I'm 64, and I believe this is the age to do everything I couldn't earlier. I have a backlog of written theatre material that needs to be staged— after all, I doubt even Yamraj encourages theatre in his realm,' he says with a laugh.
The production offers glimpses into their platonic love, the care, respect and mutual affection they shared. 'Amrita and Imroz, two figures — one from literature and the other from the visual arts — demonstrated how the two worlds can blend beautifully in companionship. Though their time together ended in 2005 with Amrita's passing, Imroz kept her memory alive until his own death in 2023. He had once said, 'Usne jism chhoda hai, mera saath nahin' (She has left the body, not my companionship).'
Neha Surana Bhandari, who plays Amrita Pritam, comes from the fashion industry and represented Telangana at the Mrs India Earth contest in 2017. A keen painter, she has closely worked on recreating Amrita's appearance and style. IT professional Sudeshna Samant plays Dr Sudipta, a fictional character who is a research scholar and admirer of Amrita Pritam.
Of love and care
Suhas hopes younger audiences will discover a deeper meaning of love through the play — what it truly means to care, to be devoted, and to live for one another. 'Love today, in the age of social media, is often instant — like ready-to-eat food. But this is a story of two individuals, Amrita and Imroz, who lived with deep affection and concern for each other. I hope young viewers will see that emotion differently and understand what it means to care from the heart,' he says.
A regular in the storytelling circuit, Suhas has written and directed five plays: Arundhati, Draupadi, Mere Kirdaar, and Chuhalbaaziyan Ismat Aur Manto Ki. Kahaniwala launched the Parchhaaee series in 2024 with its first production, Parchhaaee: Ismat Aur Manto Ki, which was staged at the Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) and again on International Women's Day at Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
Parchhaaee, Amrita Aur Imroz Ki to be staged at Lamakaan on April 27; 8 pm onwards; Tickets: bookmyshow.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
When the streets become stages for artistes
It was quite a sight when characters from George Dandin ou le mari confondu (George Dandin or The Thwarted Husband), the French play by Molière, appeared on stage in the vibrant costumes in classic therukoothu style. Naturally, the artistes spoke in Tamil, and launched full-throatedly into traditional songs. This bold adaptation of the play into therukoothu by Karunsuzhi V. Arumugam, former dean of the Department of Performing Arts at Pondicherry University, and who runs Thalaikkol Theatre Group, marked a significant moment in the evolution of the folk art form. It demonstrated how therukoothu could be transformed to suit modern storytelling. 'We first performed the play during the golden jubilee celebrations of India's Independence. It was adapted into 14 Indian languages and performed in traditional art forms unique to each State, supported by Alliance Française,' said Mr. Arumugam, nephew of the renowned therukoothu artiste Purisai Kannappa Thampiran. It was re-enacted in March this year. Traditionally, therukoothu performances revolve around stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. There are two schools — one from the former South Arcot district and another from the former North Arcot district — both within the erstwhile Madras Presidency. Kannappa Thampiran, a native of Purisai, a village near Kancheepuram, represented the North Arcot style. It is still performed for 18 days in and around the districts of Chennai during the festivals of Draupadi Amman temples. Keesagan Vatham, Dravupadi Vasthirapaharanam, Arjunan Tapsu, Karna Motcham, Virata Paruvam, Anjanavasam, and Pathinettam Por are some of the subjects performed during these festivals. However, the establishment of Koothu-P-Pattarai, a modern theatre group, by the late Na. Muthusamy began to blend classical elements of therukoothu with contemporary narratives. Mr. Arumugam, who collaborated closely with Muthusamy, Prof. Ramanujam, and Veerasamy, trained over 20 batches of students in therukoothu under the guidance of Kannappa Thampiran. 'I directed the play Sainanthari (Nirbhayavin Kathai Alla), an adaptation of Keesagan Vatham, and the message quickly reached the audience. Sainanthari is another name for Draupadi. The dialogue — at least Beeman saved Draupadi — conveyed the Nirbhaya case,' said Mr. Arumugam, who provided comprehensive training in all aspects of therukoothu including music, scriptwriting, and performance techniques to his students. Significantly, what was once an exclusively male-dominated art form began to open its doors to women through the university programme, further marking the evolution of therukoothu in a modern context. As always in Tamil Nadu, cinema celebrated the art form, and democratised it. Long ago, the Sivaji Ganesan-starrer Navarathiri became a pioneer by allowing the heroine Savithri to perform the art on screen. Avatharam, with Nasser and Revathi in the lead roles, showcased the power of the narrative techniques of therukoothu. 'Therukoothu as a device prepares an actor mentally and physically for the role they are taking on. In the past, Boys' Companies remained an excellent training ground for actors. They trained them in every aspect of acting, including music and dance. Now, it is therukoothu which fulfils that role,' said Velu Saravanan, one of the first batch of students under Mr. Arumugam. Mr. Saravanan, who runs Aazhi, a children's theatre group, said although Kannappa Thampiran had reservations about allowing women to perform, writer Indira Parthasarathy, who headed the department, persuaded him to train them in therukoothu.
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Time of India
The Infinite Thread: Raksha Bandhan and the Grace of Divine Bonds
Raksha Bandhan 2025 Images On a moonlit evening of Shravana, when hearts overflow with warmth and wrists are adorned with sacred threads, Raksha Bandhan whispers a truth far deeper than tradition. It is not just a festival of siblings—it is a meditation on love that transcends birth, gender, distance, and time. And at the heart of this celebration lies a timeless story: the divine bond between Krishna and Draupadi , where a single thread of compassion unfurled into an ocean of grace. The story begins simply. Krishna, having injured his finger, is bleeding. Among those present, Draupadi—sister not by birth but by soul—rips a strip from her silk sari and wraps it gently around his wound. She offers it with no expectation, no ritual. Just love. Krishna accepts not just the cloth, but the emotion, and vows silently: "In your moment of need, I shall repay this debt a thousandfold." Years later, in a court echoing with injustice, Draupadi is humiliated—dragged by her hair, about to be disrobed. She cries for help, powerless in a world that has turned its back. And her cry travels beyond the palace walls—reaching the heart of the One she once protected. In that moment, Krishna manifests. Not as a warrior, not with weapons—but with grace. Her sari becomes infinite. Layer upon layer flows endlessly, defying those who seek to shame her. The one who once tied a finite thread receives a protection that knows no bounds. This is Raksha Bandhan—not merely a promise between a brother and sister, but a sacred contract of the soul. The thread, though fragile in form, holds within it the strength of Shraddha (faith), Prem (love), and Dharma (righteousness). It is a symbol that the universe responds to sincere gestures of love with boundless protection. Spirituality teaches us that what is given in truth never perishes. Draupadi's offering was small, but it came from the deepest chamber of her heart. Krishna's return was immeasurable, because love multiplies when touched by grace. This is the rhythm of the divine: the finite transforms into the infinite when offered in purity. Raksha Bandhan also reminds us that the thread is not confined to blood ties. The rakhi may be tied to a friend, a soldier, a tree, or even to God. It is a statement that says, 'I see you as my own, and I will stand by you.' In a world that often divides, this thread unites. It binds not just wrists—but destinies. As you tie a rakhi this year, reflect not only on the sibling bond but on the deeper vow it represents. Ask yourself—Whose pain have I soothed? Who will come to me in their hour of need? And more importantly—Have I tied a thread around the Divine within me, the One who protects not just my body, but my soul? Because in the end, Raksha Bandhan is not just about who protects you—it's about what you are willing to protect with your love. Authors: Shambo Samrat Samajdar and Shashank R Joshi Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Time of India
Chris Hemsworth as Arjuna, Chris Evans as Lord Krishna: AI-generated Mahabharat trailer reimagines epic with Hollywood superstars
As fans wait for director Nitesh Tiwari's 'Ramayana' to hit theatres next year, a jaw-dropping AI-generated video, reimagining the epic Mahabharata, has gone viral on social media. The Instagram video has that has taken the internet by storm casts Hollywood's biggest names in a cinematic adaptation of the Indian epic. The viral clip, created using AI tech, presents a grand remagining of the epic, but as a large-scale Hollywood production. Viral Video The video features Chris Hemsworth as Arjuna and Chris Evans as Lord Krishna, leading an ensemble of internationally acclaimed stars dressed in battle armour and wielding spears, swords, and spiked clubs. The Cast The impressive cast line-up includes Cillian Murphy as Shakuni, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as Bheem, George Clooney as Yudhishtir, Timothée Chalamet as Nakul, Jacob Elordi as Sahadev, Henry Cavill as Balram, Tom Hardy as Duryodhana, Liam Neeson as Bhishma, Gary Oldman as Dronacharya, and Brad Pitt as Karna. The AI-generated female cast features Gal Gadot as Subhadra, Angelina Jolie as Draupadi and Meryl Streep as Kunti. Fans React The viral video was shared with the caption, 'What if one of the greatest epics was cast in modern-day Hollywood? This is Mahabharat like you've never seen before. Made with Frameo. AI. Did we get the cast right? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!' Netizens flooded the comments with praise, calling the casting 'unreal' and suggesting that Christopher Nolan should helm the project if Hollywood studios would ever create a global adaptation of the epic. Many were also particularly impressed by Chris Evans' avatar as Lord Krishna. Countdown for 'Ramayana' This fan-made trailer arrives shortly after another AI-generated Ramayana trailer sparked similar excitement online. That video, with its epic visuals and casting speculation, has set high expectations for Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming big-screen adaptation, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, which is slated for release on Diwali 2026, with Part 2 expected in Diwali 2027. Upcoming Bollywood Films on Hindu Epics Meanwhile, actor Aamir Khan has previously expressed his desire to work on a film based on the Mahabharata, while actress Deepika Padukone announced Draupadi, though the project is yet to go into production.
