To pay tribute to Uttam Kumar in his centenary year, township-based theatre group Dekhashona staged a comedy based on Chhadmabeshi, the 1971 comedy that remains one of the superstar’s most-loved films.

Before the play, the ceremonial lamp was lit by president Samar Sengupta, while director Hirak Subhra Chatterjee offered floral tribute to Uttam Kumar. Chatterjee also hosted a quiz on the superstar. Such was the excitement that even after an hour into the show, spectators kept creeping into Rabindra Okakura Bhavan and searched for empty seats.

The play revisited the escapades of a newly-married botany professor who plays a prank on his brother-in-law by disguising himself as his new driver.

Abhisek Barua and Dhritisa Basu as the professor and his wife Sulekha, along with Mita Majumder as Labanya, Sulekha’s sister, earned repeated rounds of applause for their comic timing. Labanya’s character was portrayed with a fine balance of gentleness and firmness while navigating various situations.

Debashis Brahmmo, as a second driver, drew thunderous applause when he sang Chho chho kya baat bhaddar ghar ki ladki bhage driver ke saath. “I was excited from the moment I was offered this role,” he said later. “I can neither sing nor dance, but practised many times. I never tried to copy the original actor Jahar Roy. The hall, too, was packed, and that generated energy for us actors.”

“There’s hardly anyone who hasn’t watched Chhadmabeshi so directing it for the stage was a challenge,” said Chatterjee, the director and scriptwriter. “I tried to highlight the humorous sequences, ensuring that the storyline remains light and engaging. As laughter and joy have almost faded from everyday lives, my actors tried to present a pleasant and memorable evening for the audience. But it should not be compared to the film.”

Abhisek, who played the fake driver, won hearts. “Initially, I was concerned about enacting such an iconic character. I watched the film regularly, but was also alert not to copy Uttam Kumar as it’s impossible to recreate his genius,” he said.

Dhritisa, who played Sulekha, is a working woman and the mother of a four-year-old. “Credit for my performance goes to the director and team members, as I often missed rehearsals. But I practised on my own and watched the original film several times.”

The audience enjoyed every minute of it. “I was so excited to watch the stage version of Chhadmabeshi that my friends and I reached the hall early and occupied front seats. Uttam Kumar cannot be recreated but Abhisek delivered a commendable performance,” said Kalpana Nandi of HA Block.

Carnival time

A non-professional networking event, also known as a carnival, was held at One Rajarhat before the weather got sultry. There were stalls, games, food and lots of neighbours who came down to mingle.

A visitor to the carnival at One Rajarhat gets his caricature sketched.

“Residents started moving into this complex from 2022 but with everyone leading busy lives, we look for opportunities to meet and bond. Now that we’ve moved to New Town, most of our relatives live an hour away, and in times of need, it is our neighbours we will depend on first,” said Avirup Talukdar, president of One Rajarhat Flat Owners' Cultural Association. "This carnival is one such annual event, where we network but without any professional agendas.”

The decor and ambience was cheerful and spirited. Stalls had been set up by residents as well as outsiders, selling everything from clothes to kebabs and cakes.

Resident and home-baker Nandini Chowdhury laid out delicacies as husband Sudip Chowdhury drew customers with witty marketing gimmicks. “Our brand Kie Sera Sera playfully twists the French proverb Que sera, sera (whatever will be, will be), encouraging customers to savour our cakes guilt-free, without worrying about calories. For Bengalis, it echoes “ki shera shera” (it’s the best),” smiled Sudip, who was also one of the organisers.

Sayan Das of Jhap Art Studio was selling clay items and teaching pottery, and Keya Karmakar was sketching caricatures for visitors. “The art is on the house so people are coming by the dozen, posing and walking off with a cartoon of themselves,” smiled Keya.

But the event was also designed to impart meaningful messages. Niladri Shankar Saha, a wealth manager, was imparting tips on financial literacy to children. “Kids should be given piggy banks and a small allowance from as early as Class I. That way parents can monitor their spending behaviour. They should be discouraged from impulse buying and taught to weigh pros and cons before making purchases. They should keep an emergency fund too. These habits, inculcated young, will make them financially sound later in life,” said the Salt Lake FE Block resident.

Kakoli Das Mandal, a behavioural counsellor, spoke to visitors about mobile addiction and sexual abuse awareness. “Kids today are taught good and bad touch, but since there was no such awareness till about 20 years ago, many who suffered when they were kids are still traumatised as adults today. It may affect their adult relationships too,” said the lady who operates out of Salt Lake’s BL Block. “They need counselling, or may try options like writing about their feelings and burning the paper as catharsis.”