A scene from Charandas Chor. Telegraph picture

Naya Theatre was back in Guwahati with Charandas Chor but alas, there was no Habib Tanvir or Dipak Tiwary playing the central characters like in 1985.

The event was Surjya National Theatre Festival and the much-staged play roused immense expectations which the fresh cast of Naya Theatre managed to live up to.

They showed how a simple story could be transformed into a magnificent play with a flawless performance.

Charandas Chor is constructed on a folk tale about a thief who inadvertently makes a pledge to his guru never to tell a lie.

He stands by his pledge though he never stops thieving.

The thief offers to take four other pledges: he will never eat off golden plates, never ride on an elephant, never marry a queen and never accept the throne of a country.

The guru retorts that as he has so generously undertaken to give up four things on his own account, he might undertake to give up one little thing at his guru’s request: lying.

The thief consents and finally accepts all five pledges that leads him to death.

The story has strong contemporary social relevance that Tanvir tried to exploit to the fullest.

Most of the good souls in society are greedy, unethical and selfish. But the thief, who is a confirmed bad soul for all, is perfectly ethical and principled.

The director has strictly maintained the sharp line between these two, yet keeping all the theatrical elements intact.

The refreshing acting by the entire cast made the comic elements come alive.

Moreover, occasional and timely use of song and choreography blended well with the script.

The entire presentation had the mark of Tanvir’s brilliance.

Tanvir had said that all the actors of his Naya Theatre are improvisers and his effort was to make their improvisations perfect.

Having performed Charandas Chor for over three decades, Naya Theatre is now synonymous with perfection on stage.