REVIEW: Rafta Rafta

FAMILIES THAT STAY TOGETHER...

At first glance Akvarious' production of Rafta Rafta, adapted by Ayub Khan-Din (who wrote perhaps the most intelligent diaspora film, East Is East, a few years ago) from a 1962 play by Bill Naughton seems dated. Not in terms of treatment, but the content itself appears old-fashioned. A big fat Punjabi wedding in a working class ghetto of Manchester, a young couple living in a small household with the boy's parents and younger brother, a clash of generations and of cultural values between Indian parents and their British born kids -- all peppered with a liberal dash of humour.

Yet, I'm told, not much has changed for a community that's still desperately trying to cling to its indigenous roots. A piquant mix of tradition and modernity makes for great comedy when it's performed by a scintillating cast with impeccable timing, in sequences that hinge largely on repartee.

Co-director Akarsh Khurana himself plays the portly, gregarious patriarch Vishwajeet Malhotra, often grumpy and particularly disappointed with his older son Adi (Adhaar Khurana) who's married Tasneem (Abir Abrar), the daughter of the constantly bickering Khalid (Faisal Rashid) and Fatima Rashid (Ahlam Khan, the standout performer). Like many immigrants he's clinging to his roots and foolishly nostalgic about the good old days. The son, for his part, can't connect with his strange family and tries to shake off just about everything they stand for.

The introductory scene has a rambunctious post-wedding celebration punctuated by Vish rebuking Adi for drinking tea instead of whiskey, for refusing to sing, for being a lesser man (after losing an arm-wrestling match). Motormouth Fatima, on the other hand, has her share of gaffes trying to explain the modalities of the 'first night' to her embarrassed daughter, who obviously doesn't need her tips.

Directors Khurana and Tahira Nath seem to have replicated the stage design of the  British and American productions of Rafta Rafta (albeit more functionally), breaking up the modest Malhotra home into split levels -- the ground floor with a drawing room that merges into the dining and kitchen areas and two bedrooms upstairs. Adi is often seen looking out of the window of his tiny room (facing away from his parents') and smoking away. Tasneem can't understand why this man who loves her is unable to consummate their marriage. But being in a cramped space with an over-bearing family isn't the best predicament for newly weds.

Things come to a head when Tasneem makes the mistake of telling her mother. All hell breaks loose as the two sets of parents conference over how to approach this peculiar situation -- but mostly end up squabbling amongst themselves and articulate their own marital misgivings instead.

Crisp writing and a brisk pace ensure there's never a dull moment in Rafta Rafta. As a slice-of-life comedy, it's riveting, if somewhat restricted in its scope unlike East Is East, which examined several serious aspects of immigrant life in the UK with greater insight.

Comments

[Arpit]

Saw this play at the IIT Bombay Theatre Fest. Simply brilliant!!!

[Vikram Phukan]

My Son The Fanatic (also starring Om Puri) was the most intelligent diaspora film... but we'll leave that for another day, another discussion. West is West is coming to town soon. We should watch it together.