Tara is an interesting tale of
the gender discrimination that still prevails in the Indian society. What is
the reason behind India still being a male dominated society? or why a male is
still considered as the decision maker in a family? The play throws light on
this subject. Directed by Arvind Gaur, Tara is a well-told story brought on
stage by seven strong characters- Tara, Chandan, Roopa, Dan, Patel , Dr.
Thakkar and Bharti. It brings out the cacophonies of life which we face in our
everyday lives.
Tara and Chandan are twins,
conjoined from birth, but that didn’t pose to be a hurdle for either of the
two. With advanced medical technology, they were separated successfully. Life’s bitter experiences on the other hand
were waiting for the two as they were cursed with handicapped legs. Bharti,
mother of Chandan and Tara has an unconditional love for the two, quite
opposite to Mr. Patel, her selfish husband who only wanted his son to join business.
Caught in between the
complexities of life is Tara, who fails to understand why there is such a
difference in love and affection towards her in the family or is it because she
is a girl? On one side, is her mother, Bharti who considers her the apple of
her eye, on the other side is her father who is least concerned about her
daughter’s future.
Tara has a dysfunctional lung in
her body which she was unaware of. Only Bharti was aware of her critical
condition. On the other hand, Bharti is undergoing an emotional distress that
has made her vulnerable to mental disturbance. Dan decides to admit ailing
Bharti in the hospital after seeing her rapid deterioration in health and makes
it sure that none of his children are allowed to visit her without his consent.
Amidst much tension, Tara gets
operated at the hospital. She is kept aloof of her mother’s critical condition.
An ever inquisitive Tara returns home searching her mother. Both her father and
Chandan try to pacify her by cracking jokes, but she doesn’t succumb to
them. She seeks the help of her brother
to meet her mother, but even he denies for any help.
Tara is shocked to know that even
her own brother was not by her side, when she decided to visit her ailing
mother in the hospital. Chandan, on the other hand was constantly fighting with
his inner demons that stopped him to stand beside her beloved sister, Tara. He
failed to understand what was it that was stopping him from standing by his
sister. Chandan was in a state of delirium, he could realize there must be
something that was stopping his father from meeting his mother.
Chandan grows up to be a writer.
Till date, he hasn’t been successful. He is always haunted by his past. One day
he decides to write a story taking Dr. Thakkar as the main protagonist. While interviewing
Dr. Thakkar, he comes to know that in one of his operations, he had been unfair
when he was bribed by Mr. Dan (who happens to be Chandan’s father) to afford
the male child with a better leg. Hence, the girl child, Tara was denied of
this privilege.
Knowing this ugly truth of life
Chandan commits suicide as he was not successful either in becoming a writer or
a child who could take care of his family.
