Social criticism in Mahesh Dattani's plays

Abstract

The medium of theatre/performance appears the most apt way to represent the way in which various identities of an individual are constructed in family/society and the ways in which one goes on to perform/ enact those roles consistently. Just like an actor who as a part of the narrative of a play has to imbibe her/his role and perform to perfection likewise an individual is born in the existing social discourses which have to be imbibed and performed. After several performances and rehearsals the actor performs her/his part with great ease (depending upon the skills of the actor). Likewise the individual learns to play her/his character and becomes at ease with the given role (again depending upon the skills of the actor!). The theatrical discourse as also the societal narrative is designed to meet a set agenda. However the actor moves on from one role to another, depending upon the choices and options available to her/him, but the individual who is trapped in the societal narrative is doomed, for there is hardly any scope for alternative roles/ existence. Mahesh Dattani's plays bring out an exposition of what happens as a consequence of such entrapments which do not provide for an individual's choices and preferences.