Play review: Iss Kambakht Saathe Ka Kya Karein?

Minor health complications, shifting to a new home and general laziness… just some of the reasons the blog was inactive for a couple of months. But without further ado, let’s get on with what this blog is here for… love for the performing arts.

A couple of days ago, we got a chance to speak with Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub. The talented actor – a graduate from National School of Drama – has received rave reviews for his performance in movies such as Tanu Weds Manu Returns and Raanjhana and has an equally impressive line-up of films in his kitty, including Raees with none other than Shah Rukh Khan. However, our interest in the young man was more to do with his passion for theatre than for his big screen engagements. The actor spoke to us about his new play Iss Kambakht Saathe Ka Kya Karein? and that he was making a return to theatre after almost six years.

                                                             Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub 

We saw the play on Wednesday night at NCPA. Directed by his wife Rasika Agashe, Iss Kambakht Saathe Ka Kya Karein is the Hindi adaptation of the Marathi play Sathecha Kay Karecha? written by Rajiv Naik. Zeeshan plays Abhay, a successful ad-filmmaker whose biggest grouse in life is that Saathe, a documentary filmmaker is more successful than him. Or so he feels. He vents out his feelings as and when possible in front of his wife Salma (played by Rasika), an English teacher by profession. The tensions and drama rests on the conversations and play of words between these two diametrically opposite people. While Abhay doesn’t let go of any opportunity to criticise Saathe, Salma’s reaction is to enjoy the smaller moments of joy that life brings.

This dark comedy relies much on the chemistry between the two principal characters and that is where, we feel, the play scores. While Salma’s character sounds a tad too preachy in the initial few conversations and the English dialogues a little forced, the overall impact is that of a couple who enjoy each other’s company and you look forward to the next scene and conversation. Without Abhay’s dry wit and Salma’s light-hearted repartees, the play would have become too dark.

                                        Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Rasika Agashe 

However, there were some areas where the play could have done better and music is one of them. In most places, the music is either too loud and drowns out the dialogues and therefore, the impact they are meant to create. In others, the choice of song has no connect with the situation. Some scenes, like the one in which Salma starts crying or Abhay’s emotional monologue towards the end of the play, feels a little out of place as there are no tensions created leading up to the same. One is also left a tad dissatisfied as an audience at the end as the resolution doesn’t feel like one.

Overall, the play makes for an entertaining watch. Kudos to the dialogue writer for making the conversations seem everyday, yet, engaging. And watch it to see Zeeshan on stage, before you get to see him play larger than life characters onscreen again.