Tara by Mahesh Dattani

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of the BA syllabus of M. M. Ghodasara Mahila Arts and Commerce College, Junagadh. In this blog I am going to discuss 'Tara' by Mahesh Dattani.

MAHESH DATTANI:-

Mahesh Dattani is one of the most celebrated playwrights in contemporary Indian theatre. Born in 1958 in Bangalore, Dattani grew up in a middle-class Gujarati family and was educated at St. Joseph's College in Bangalore. From a young age, Dattani showed a keen interest in the performing arts. He began writing plays and directing productions while still in college, and after graduating, he decided to pursue a career in the theatre.

One of Dattani's earliest and most acclaimed plays is "Tara," which premiered in 1990. The play tells the story of a pair of conjoined twins, Tara and Chandan, and the complex emotional and social issues that arise from their unique situation. Dattani's sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the twins' experiences, as well as his exploration of themes like gender discrimination and family dynamics, earned the play widespread critical acclaim.

Following the success of "Tara," Dattani continued to write and produce a steady stream of plays that tackled a wide range of social and political issues. His 1994 play "Dance Like a Man," for example, explored the challenges faced by a male dancer in a society that often views the art form as a feminine pursuit.

Another of Dattani's most well-known works is "Final Solutions," which premiered in 1993. The play delves into the complex and often painful history of religious and communal tensions in India, using the backdrop of the Hindu-Muslim riots of the 1990s to explore the roots of prejudice and the lasting impact of intolerance. What sets Dattani apart as a playwright is his ability to take on these weighty, often controversial topics and present them in a way that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant. His plays are known for their rich, multilayered narratives, complex characters, and careful attention to social and political context.

Dattani's work is also distinguished by his innovative approach to theatrical form and language. He often experiments with non-linear storytelling, multiple perspectives, and the blending of realism and symbolism. His dialogue, too, is renowned for its poetry and its ability to capture the rhythms and cadences of contemporary Indian speech.

In addition to his prolific output as a playwright, Dattani has also made significant contributions to the field of Indian theatre through his work as a director, teacher, and advocate. He has directed productions of his own plays, as well as those of other contemporary Indian dramatists, and has been a passionate advocate for the development of a vibrant, intellectually engaged theatre scene in India.

Dattani's commitment to the arts has also extended beyond the theatre. He has written screenplays for television and film, and has been involved in various educational initiatives aimed at promoting the study and appreciation of the performing arts in India. Throughout his career, Dattani has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, both in India and internationally. In 1998, he became the first Indian playwright to receive the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, which is considered one of the highest literary honors in the country.

Dattani's plays have also been widely translated and performed around the world, introducing his unique artistic vision to audiences beyond India's borders. His work has been praised for its ability to transcend cultural boundaries and speak to universal human experiences. Despite his many accolades, Dattani remains firmly committed to the goal of using the theatre as a platform for social and political engagement. He sees his plays not merely as works of art, but as tools for challenging societal norms, interrogating power structures, and giving voice to marginalized communities.

In this sense, Dattani's legacy extends far beyond his individual artistic achievements. He is regarded as a pioneering figure in the development of a new, socially conscious approach to Indian theatre, one that has inspired a generation of playwrights, directors, and activists to use the stage as a means of effecting meaningful change.

As Indian theatre continues to evolve and diversify, the influence of Mahesh Dattani's work is likely to be felt for many years to come. His plays have become an integral part of the canon of contemporary Indian drama, and his enduring commitment to the power of the theatre to transform society has made him a truly seminal figure in the cultural landscape of the subcontinent.

In conclusion, Mahesh Dattani is a playwright of immense talent, vision, and social conscience. Through his rich, thought-provoking plays, he has made an indelible mark on the world of Indian theatre, and has established himself as one of the most important and influential dramatists of his generation.

TARA:-

"Tara" is one of Mahesh Dattani's most acclaimed and celebrated plays. First performed in 1990, the play tells the story of a pair of conjoined twins, Tara and Chandan, and the complex emotional and social issues that arise from their unique situation. The play opens with Chandan, the male twin, returning to India after many years living abroad. As he reflects on his childhood and the events that led to his departure, the audience is gradually introduced to the Patel family and the intricate web of relationships and tensions that define their lives.

At the heart of the play is the story of Tara and Chandan, who were born conjoined at the lower body. Despite the medical challenges they faced, the twins were very close as children, relying on each other for both physical and emotional support. However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that their bond was not entirely equal. Tara, the female twin, was always seen as the weaker and more fragile of the two, while Chandan was favored by their parents and given more opportunities and resources.

This dynamic, Dattani suggests, is deeply rooted in the patriarchal structure of Indian society, where girls and women are often devalued and denied the same rights and privileges as their male counterparts. The play's exploration of gender discrimination is a central theme, and Dattani uses the specific case of Tara and Chandan to shine a light on the broader societal attitudes and prejudices that continue to shape the lives of women and girls in India.

One of the most powerful moments in the play comes when the audience learns the true story of Tara and Chandan's separation surgery. It's revealed that the doctors, under pressure from Tara's grandfather, made the decision to give Chandan a slightly larger portion of the shared leg, despite the fact that this would likely result in a poorer outcome for Tara.

This decision, driven by the family's preference for a male heir, ultimately proves to be devastating for Tara, who is left with a weaker and less functional leg. The play suggests that this act of gender-based discrimination has profound and lasting consequences, not only for Tara but for the entire family.

As the play progresses, Dattani also delves into the complex psychological and emotional dynamics within the Patel household. Tara and Chandan's parents, Roopa and Patel, are portrayed as well-intentioned but deeply flawed individuals, struggling to reconcile their own desires and fears with their responsibilities as parents.

Roopa, in particular, is a compelling and complex character. On the one hand, she is deeply devoted to her children and wants nothing more than to see them happy and successful. But on the other hand, she is haunted by her own feelings of guilt and inadequacy, and finds it difficult to truly confront the ways in which she has failed her daughter.

Chandan, too, is a complicated figure. As the more privileged and successful of the twins, he has grappled with his own sense of guilt and responsibility, particularly as he has watched Tara struggle with the physical and emotional consequences of their separation.

Dattani's masterful use of language and structure, as well as his keen psychological insight, allow him to explore these complex themes and characters with a remarkable depth and nuance. The play's non-linear structure, which jumps back and forth in time, creates a sense of fragmentation and disorientation that mirrors the emotional turmoil experienced by the Patel family.

The play's climactic moments, in which the long-buried secrets and resentments within the family are finally brought to the surface, are particularly powerful. Dattani's ability to craft emotionally charged, and often heart-wrenching, dialogue is on full display as the characters confront their own failings and the ways in which their actions have shaped the course of their lives.

One of the most striking aspects of "Tara" is Dattani's use of symbolism and metaphor to explore the play's central themes. The image of the conjoined twins, for example, serves as a powerful metaphor for the ways in which individual identity and agency can be constrained by societal expectations and family obligations. Similarly, the play's exploration of the medical procedures and interventions that were used to separate Tara and Chandan can be seen as a metaphor for the broader ways in which patriarchal structures and gender-based discrimination have been institutionalized within Indian society.

Dattani's decision to set the play in the middle-class milieu of the Patel family also speaks to his broader interest in exploring the complexities of Indian identity and the ways in which class, caste, and regional differences can shape individual experiences. "Tara" has been widely praised for its powerful social and political commentary, as well as its nuanced and emotionally resonant portrayal of the Patel family's struggles. The play has been performed extensively both in India and abroad, and has been translated into multiple languages, further extending its reach and impact.

Dattani's work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award, which he received in 1998 for his contributions to Indian literature. This accolade, along with the critical acclaim that has greeted "Tara" and his other plays, has cemented Dattani's reputation as one of the most important and influential playwrights in contemporary Indian theatre.

In conclusion, "Tara" is a remarkable and thought-provoking work that tackles some of the most pressing social and political issues facing India today. Through its sensitive and nuanced exploration of the Patel family's experiences, the play sheds light on the deeply entrenched gender biases and power structures that continue to shape the lives of women and girls in the country.

Dattani's masterful use of language, structure, and symbolism, combined with his keen psychological insight and social consciousness, have made "Tara" a enduring classic of Indian theatre. The play's enduring relevance and impact, both within India and around the world, are a testament to the power of Dattani's artistic vision and his commitment to using the stage as a platform for social and political transformation.