He who survived the conflict

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The after-effects of conflict are never happy; it always leaves scars in the heart of those who survive it. Peeda Geet reminds you of the Maoist armed conflict of Nepal through the cries of Dalbahadur and his shattered life in the present time when the Constitution of the country is yet to be drafted.

A monologue, Peeda Geet showcases Dal Bahadur’s struggle in a city as he tries to forget the pains given by the conflict. And this character has been brought to life by the energetic performance of Khagendra Lamichhane — writer, actor and director of the play.

Dalbahadur’s wife, children and relatives are killed during the insurgency. He is also displaced from his village — Dalbahadur ends up on the streets of a city all alone where he struggles for survival. While wandering the streets, he meets a youngster — about to fly abroad — and shares with him his life story.

This monologue has used the flashback technique to tell Dalbahadur’s story — the protagonist recalls his time with family, bloody conflict, how he separated from his family, promises of politicians and his miserable life on the city’’s streets. Lamichhane endearingly goes back and forth in the characters of a labourer on the streets, a happily married man and a conflict survivor. And he knows the soul of each character, his transformation is convincing.

While he talks to an imaginary figure as the young man, he even transforms himself into various other characters like a politician and a sahu. Lamichhane quite well gets into the shoes of different characters while remaining true to the role of protagonist Dalbahadur.

He has naturally delivered the dialect of Western Nepal making his characters more authentic. The costume — shrunken kameez suruwal, pheta (turban) and canvas shoes — complement his character. Meanwhile, the cane that Dalbahadur carries with him all the time, serves as a prop with multiple purposes — from becoming his support in the city to a gun of state and revolutionists that displaced him from his village.

Light and music have been used efficiently to transport the audience from one place to another. For instance, the streets and junctions of the city have been created using light effects. Dalbahadur singing a touching song Aanshu Khasera Bhuima Pokhari elevates the tragic feel in the play’s beginning. And his memories get more painful with the inclusion of apt music during the performance.

The nearly 40-minute-long story is quite gripping and one wouldn’t mind if it had been a bit longer.

The play is being staged at Theatre Village Lazimpat till January 10 at 5:00 pm except on Wednesdays.

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