A scene from Wuthering Heights by Tamasha at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Photograph: Tristram KentonOn Thursday evening I was invited along to the press night for a Bollywood adaptation of Wuthering Heights. Being familiar with the Wuthering Heights story and having seen a few Bollywood films in my time, I was intrigued.
The curtain opened on to the sandy plains of the Rajasthan desert; where hagglers entice and curse potential customers in the same breath and camels sit, basking in the hot sun. A young beggar steals an unremarkable pot from a dusty traveller; in order to get it back the traveller must tell the tale behind the pot he seems to treasure. And so it begins...
Just like the original, Krishan (Bollywood’s Heathcliff) is brought home by a kind spice merchant to be raised alongside his son Hari and daughter Shakuntala (Bollywood’s Catherine). Whilst Hari despises his foster brother, Krishan and Shakuntala become inseparable and their love for one another is obvious to everyone. Upon the death of their father, Hari’s ill treatment of Krishan worsens and against his father’s wishes Hari treats his foster brother like a servant. A few years on Shakuntala catches the eye of Vijay, a wealthy neighbour and he asks for her hand in marriage. As Shakuntala explains to her maid Ayah (the source of much humour in this adaptation) her reasons for accepting and why she cannot marry Krishan he overhears and runs away. The issue of class is neatly replaced with the issue of caste.
Three years later Krishan returns a wealthy man and discovers that Shakuntala will not leave her husband, for revenge he marries her husband’s sister. The betrayal is too much for Shakuntala and she becomes very ill; moments before she dies, Krishan and Shakuntala declare their love for one another. Instead of releasing her ashes into water (as is their custom) Krishan keeps them in the urn for the next twenty years. And thus we return to the dusty traveller and his pot: an older Krishan and the ashes of Shakuntala. On seeing Shakuntala’s ghost in the desert he releases her ashes and in death is reunited with his love.
Injected with typical Bollywood fanfare: dancing, singing and sparkly costumes, there is no room for Gothic and supernatural overtones. For those who may find the original a little too convoluted this version is the perfect alternative; replacing Goth with mysticism and romance. The use of Hindi (and English) steeps it further in Bollywood tradition, whilst catering to its bilingual audience.
The story is a powerful one and the decision to focus on the tale of love, without delving too much into the tale of revenge, provides a simpler story. With its beautiful stage designs, brilliant acting and chemistry between the protagonists, Bollywood Heights is definitely worth seeing.
Wuthering Heights
Lyric, Hammersmith - Until May 23
© Rachelle Hull
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2 comments:
Too right about 'Heights' being convoluted. I haven't been to the Lyric in a while (not since they did the Dramayana a few years back), but I might go and see this.
Great review.
i for once had never read the book or visited a stage show , but out of curosity went to see the show and my god i was really impressed
well done to all those who put their hard work in it
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