Replete with humour
The audience of Chennai, on a sultry evening gets transported to the pristine paradise (Kashmir) where it’s chilly and snowy, courtesy —the writer and directòr Saurabh Shukla. The curtain rose and we were enthralled by the set and the story which submerged the audience with its thrilling and unpredictable narrative. It was replete with hints of humour and witty remarks of the socio political scenario. Caught in the cobweb of truth, belief, faith, the play ends leaving the audience with a stupendous feeling of amazement and happiness. Happiness, that is relative and far-fetched yet worth hoping for. Nevertheless, the actors were brilliant, flawless and made it difficult for us to drive down home and realise that we are in Chennai and not beside the snow capped mountains. Thus, Barff was a theatre experience that could not have been better.
Sunita Roy Chowdhury, Kilpauk
Truth, belief and faith
Barff is a lucid play focusing on a complicated subject —truth— which potentially can melt even a cold-hearted soul. Amidst the mountains of Kashmir it catersto the deeper issues of human existence like loneliness, fear, hope and belief. Saurabh Shukla playing a doctor, who is a rational head believing things as they appear keeps you glued with his versatility. Sadiya Sididqui and Sunil Palwal playing an isolated couple living in a fictional world strike a chord making you empathize with them.The agony of the couple's parenthood seems dragged, however the questions raised during the drama and the message at the end is flabbergasting. Bust a gut with your kith and kin.
Vinay A, Kilpauk
Multiplicity of truth
Barff”, directed by Mr. Saurabh Shukla, based on short story by Ranjeet Kapur left the audience dwelling on the ‘ multiplicity of truth’. The curtain raises to an esoteric set of a wooden house amidst snowfall in Kashmir. The play walks us through different aspects of life of being a good Samaritan, of an unconditionally loving husband to the fiercely protective mother. The walk to find one’s existence or home in an abandoned village to how the characters breathe life into a doll leaves the audience to nuance on the idea of truth, existentialism and seclusion. The dialogues have been effortlessly delivered, not to forget the Kashmiri accent aced by Ms. Sadia. The love a mother can show to a lifeless doll , her wailing on assuming the ‘baby’ is killed or the comfort she finds in her husband who ensures what his wife wants is what their world is all about grips the audience emotionally throughout.The cast Mr. Saurabh Shukla, Mr. Sunil Palwal and Ms. Sadia Siddiqui have played their roles with panache.
On the closing note, the audience is left with change in life’s beliefs and questions the real meaning of word called ‘truth’.
Ance Cherian, Guindy
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