Letter written to a friend after watching the play  Gabhir Asukh (Deep illness)..

Excellent play. Very well done. Well scripted and well directed. Energetic flow of action, coherent plot, excellent stage designing and very competent acting by the lead characters. Dr Chakrabarty and Bhonsle were the best. Male characters did sort of take center stage today. Is it because psychiatry was a male dominated profession for a long time?

 Isn't it interesting that the story teller and psychiatric patient narrating the story is a woman? Doctors male, patient woman. There were more women than men, as patients, did you notice? Years ago I remember reading in some feminist theoretical essay that women were more involved in careers as psychiatric patients than men. Apparently men have some hormone or God knows what, that makes them more forward looking and better engaged with the world, which ensures objectivity.

Yet,interestingly, Manashi is also the 'Kathak' (story teller, script writer, rhapsode) who is cogent and coherent enough to tell the story. Thank Snehashish Bhattacharya  for making this woman psychiatric patent, also the story teller or the artist.

Perhaps there is some releasing force in undergoing the pain of psychiatric illness. It made Dr Chakrabarty ask some very penetrating and humane questions. 

By the way did you understand how Dr Bhonsle became converted to Dr. Chakrabarty's point of view? Some gift of personality that the older doctor must have possessed. Some charm, some force, some energy of belief that had the power to sway another man/being who was also sensitive. Artists have this power of swaying, moving,energizing others. The greatness of theatre lies in its power to move many. Hence political movements have used theatre to get their message across. And this one does too. 'India is incredible' because it 'diminishes' those with 'mental illness'. It is 'insane' says a poster on the sets. Wonderful. Yes, 'Great art is inevitably political but irrevocably beautiful as well' (Toni Morrison)

Dr. Bhonsle was very well played. The cool business like non-Bengali, who finally acquires some of the passion of a Bengali. From cool and self possessed he becomes passionate and engaged. Interesting.

The story reminded me of Chekhov's Ward No Six. Very similar. How the doctor treating mental patients eventually becomes insane himself. '

'Transference' is so dangerous isn't it? I believe psychoanalysts live in real danger of absorbing the 'transfer' of the analysand's personality into themselves. But unless you comprehend through imagination and understanding and through affect, how will you cure the other person?

Very interesting questions raised from the point of view of Medical Science. How much empathy? How does one monitor exactly how much to give? Whether a pat on the head is more than what professionalism demands. In America one can NEVER talk to the doctor outside his/her chamber. He/She may not recognize you when they see you on the street. Perhaps it is very different in a hospital where you are in constant contact with patients. 

I think Snehashish Bhattacharya truly understands the situation well. Or else he would not have been able to act with such engagement. 

Please parle shobai ke bolish je bheeshon bheeshon bhalo legecche. Khuby moving. Sima Mukhopadhyay and the entire 'parivar' of this theatre goshthi deserve kudos.

 Well done. May they produce many more such thoughtful and well designed, well written and well directed plays. Ora je theatre 'japon' kore shune bodoi bhalo laglo. E chhada theatre hoi na. Ekhane passion na thakle theatre e praan ashbe na. Devi puja'r motoi theatre aradhona ebam sadhana korte hoi.  

I would be curious to know how Kolkata takes thisplay. Exactly how many people  actually go to see it and like it.