A scene from Piyoli Phukan. Picture by Eastern Projections

To tell a story that has been done to death and yet manage to hold the attention of the audience is a colossal task. And if it happens to be about a historical figure, add to that the responsibility of maintaining factual accuracy even while trying to imaginatively reconstruct the protagonist’s character.

Piyoli Phukan, staged by director Anupjyoti Choudhury at Rabindra Bhawan recently, does not betray any such anxiety.

It’s only when the curtains go down that you realise that you have sat through a two-hour dramatic depiction of events you have been reading since sixth grade.

And that’s where director Anupjyoti Choudhury scores.

Based on life of the eponymous hero who rose against the British in the 19th century, the play remains loyal to the chain of events history books provide without much attempt at adventurous interpretation.

Piyoli Phukan, in fact, is a unique character in the story of India’s freedom struggle.

He was the son of the infamous Badan Borphukan who brought in army troops from Myanmar to dethrone the Ahom king in the 18th century.

It was this move by Borphukan that paved the way to British rule in Assam.

The islanders landed in Assam ostensibly to save the people from the inhuman torture of the Myanmar army, and in no time took over the reins of administration themselves.

The Indian aristocracy of the time bowed down before the British rulers. Most followed suit, but not Phukan.

Though physically handicapped, the dynamic leader on crutches was the first to organise a people’s uprising against the British after the Yandabu Pact.

With indomitable courage, conviction and support of the masses, Phukan hatched a dare-devil plan —to blow up a firearms godown of the British rulers.

Everything was going as planned till the English, acting on a tip-off, arrested Phukan.

After a tumultuous trial, Phukan was hanged on July 26, 1830.

Director Anupjyoti Choudhury keeps the narrative simple. It helps, of course. Since the play presents a long chain of events, a complex structure could have been self-defeating.

Almost all the scenes have been designed in a manner to allow the audience the space and time to get suitably involved with every turn of event.

A very talented Anup Hazarika as Piyoli Phukan and seasoned Nipon Goswami as the British Col Cuper do justice to their parts.

Anup pulled off the powerful role of the handicapped charismatic leader with charming ease.

In two other small roles, Lakhi Borthakur and Jolly Laskar were also impressive.

Make-up by Bhanu Sarma was flawless. But the lighting by Achyut Bisoya and music by veteran Ramen Barua were a let-down in this otherwise flawless production.