Theatre Review: Sir Sir Sarla

Play:Sir Sir Sarla
Directed by:Makrand Deshpande
Duration:135 minutes
Cast:Makrand Deshpande, Sanjay Dadhich, Aahana Kumra & Faisal Rashid
Language:Hindi
Rating:4
The first time Sir Sir Sarla made its debut on stage was way back in the year 2001, and it had names like Makrand Deshpande, Anurag Kashyap and Sonali Kulkarni, who were part of cast. Today, Deshpande, the writer and director of this play, is revisiting it, with a whole new young cast and an altered storyline.But this new version is just as interesting and enjoyable as the old one.
Sir Sir Sarla, a long-winding drama in two parts, tells us the story of Professor Palekar, a poetry teacher and his two most beloved students, the pretty Sarla and the seemingly unimpressive Phanidhar. Flitting between the past (when they were his students) and present (four years after they’ve graduated), this two hour 15-minute drama traces their lives, which remain interwoven, even though time has moved on.
Apart from writing and directing the play, Makrand Deshpande essays the role of the professor and his character is one you will sympathise with, because of the constant internal conflict he faces with his prudish self. He’s not just a teacher — he has a philosophical side and most times, he plays mentor to his students, sometimes crossing boundaries, which may lead us to question his philosophies and actions.
Aahana Kumra, as Sarla plays the typical bubbly collegian, who is infatuated by her professor in a very innocent, school-girl kind of way. But she surprises you in the second act and the audacious streak in her character comes forth, when she wants to leave her husband Keshav (another of the professor’s students) because he’s ‘boring’.
Sanjay Dadhich, as the underdog student, who shares a love-hate relationship with the professor and Sarla, is brilliant in one word! When he accuses the professor of manipulating and controlling everyone’s lives, you tend to agree with his point of view. Whether it’s the way he delivers his punches or simply his expressions — he’s a treat to watch on stage.
If there’s something that’s bothersome and tedious about Sir Sir Sarla, it’s certainly the duration of the play. But the dialogues, performances and spells of poetry all through the play, make it worth its length.