KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore [NOTE: This drama will be presented as part of the Glimpses of Tagore.After the play “Dui Bigha Jami”, there will be an English narration by the MC “ In his short story Kabuliwala, is a first person narrative of an urban novelist who chances upon an Afghan Vendor. He channels the longing of those trapped in mundane, hardscrabble Indian Urban life, providing a release of dreams of a different existence in the distant and wild mountains as well as an escape from narrow mindedness to a realization of the universal sentiment of parenthood.” Then they would play the song or part of the song “ Aaloker ei jharnadharai dhuie dao” …] After this the play starts. Scene# I Stage: A table & Chair, Pad & Pen Props: Money (Baba), Kabuliwala’s Jhuli (KW), paper packets of Pista/ Badam (KW), Putul (Mini) CD # 1: A background music starts. Curtain Opens. LIGHT ON( Full light on the stage) . Music stops after 40 Second. We see a person sitting in front of a desk and busy in writing. Slowing the music fades away and Mini enters the stage. Mini Baba Mini Baba Mini Baba, tumi likhcho Bujhi? Han. Baba. Jano Ramdayal daroan kakke koua bale. Se kichu jane na. Na? Ramdayal to hindusthani tai. Jano baba bholata na bhison boka. Bhola bolchilo akashe anek hati ache. Tara shunr diye jal phele, tai bristhi hoy. Bhola michi michi boke, dinrat bake. Jak ajke o lekhata mathai uthlo. Mini tomar ma bujhi tomay pathiye dile? Han. Bolle babake birakto karge. Baba, Ma tomar ke hoy? Achha Mini tumi bhitare jao. Amar ekhon anek kaaj ache. Uh. Baba to shunche na. Ekhon ki kori? Ekhon ki kori? (Skipping, hopping and jumping around and goes near the right side of the entrance when she hears the vendor’s hawking noise) Baba Mini Baba Mini A hawking noise comes from background “Hing Libe, Pesta libe, Badma Meo libe”. Slowly the noise comes to the front and we see a Kabuliwala is hawking for merchandise. Kabuliwala enters the stage from outside (right side, outside the curtain). KW Hing libe. Pesta, Badam, Meoa libe? Kabuliwala Page 1 Mini KW Mini Baba KW (Standing next to Baba) Kabuliwala. Hon. Paisata Rakho.” Mini KW Kabuliwala. Kabuliwala Page 2 . Ha. Maph korben babu. CD # 2 Baba’s Voice at the background: “ Kabuliwalar saathe Minir eta didyobar sakhyat noy. tomar o jhulir bhitar ki ache? Hanti ache. Asho. Minir chooto hridoytake joy kore pheleche. Dekhbe? Na. badam ghushe diye. Kabuliwalar proti Minir je bhoy chilo.KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore Mini KW Mini KW Eta ke? Kabuliwala? Kabuliwala Eai Kabuliwala. KW gives some badam and pesta to Mini. ( Again runs away) Na. Se pray pratyaha ese Pesta. Baba KW Mini comes back and stands next to her father and holds his hand as she is scared. Mini takes it and runs away inside) Oke esab keno dile? Aei Nao ( Baba goes to give some money to KB). Na. Ha. Hanti Ache. Na. Hon. Props: Kabuliwala’s Jhuli (KW). Asho. (Baba jor purbak paisa dey) Selam Babu. laughing. Na. Na. kabuliwala. seta o kete geche. Asho. Slowly comes near. Sach bolche. Na. A small stool for Mini to sit. tomar o jhulir bhitar ki ache? Hanti ache. LIGHT OFF ( The light will remain off until Kabuliwala and Mini comes back and take their sit for the next Sccene) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Scene # 2 Stage: A table and chair. miming. (Mini makes face a) Ha. Kabuliwala. Mini’s Putul (Mini) LIGHT ON We see Mini and Kabuliwala sitting at the right corner of the stage near the staircase and talking to each other. Hanti. Hanti. kabuliwala. Badam khabe? Pesta khabe? (Mini takes time. (Smiles) Asho. Na. Hi Khonki tomi sasurbari kokhunu jabe na! Tumi sashubari jabe? Hami shoshurke marbe? ( Show a big musthi) (Mini laughs at this) (Kabuliwala also laughs. KW Bahut Accha! Bahut Accha! LIGHT OFF for 15 sec only. By then Baba comes and takes his place.KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore Mini KW Min KW Hi. ) CD # 3 with the Mama Chitte Instrumental OR Live Tabla/ Instrument by the musicians. Hi. Jara dikhao dikhao (Request) Mini (Agrees and starts) Mama Chitte – Niti Nitye (Dances for 30 Sec Mini is going to sing and dance herself. Stage : Remove Stool >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Scene # 3 Stage: A table & chair. Baba’s voice plays in the background: “Minir ma atyanta bhitu prikitir lok. pad and pen Props: None LIGHT ON Baba is sitting down and trying to write.) (Need to show lot of laughter in this scene) Mini KW Tumi Satyi Satyi Shoshurke Marbe ? Hami jarur shoshurke marbe? ( Show a big musthi) (Mini laughs again) Khonki jara naach dikhabe? Mini KW Na. CD # 4 After the light is on. Rastai ekta shabda shunlei tar mone hai je pritibhir samasta lok amader Kabuliwala Page 3 . Looks disturbed. Baparta ki? Golmal ta kiser? Dekhe asi to? ( Baba leaves the stage and comes back) The noise continues at the background on the CD. pad and pen Props: None LIGHT ON CD # 5 A lot of noise at the background (Ki holo. O Kabuliwala. (In the background) Shala beiman. Prithibite etodin bas koreo tar aei bhoy jai ni. Tumi sasurbari jabe? ( Suddenly smiles) Sikhanei jachche? Sasurake maritam. “ LIGHT OFF for 10. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Scene # 4 Stage: A table & chair. Aami tar sondeha hense uriye dile. Hat je bandha. Rahamat take churi bosiye diyeche.15 second just to show change of scene. Bar bar amake najar rakhte bolto.KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore baritake uddeshya korey chute aashche. Ki holo. Police ese Rahamat ke dhore niye jacche. se jiggesh korto “ Kokhono ki karor chele churi hoy na? Kabuldeshe ke das babsya prachalito nei? Ekjon prachando kabulir pokkhe ki aeitku akta baccha ke churi kora ekebariey asambhav? “ Amake mante holo je bapyarta je asambhav ta noi. Kabuliwala somandhye se nishsangsoy chilo na. KW It is scene that a handcuffed Rahamat is being taken away by a policeman. Police. Mini KW KW Mini Kabuliwala Kabuliawala. Baba is still sitting there. Mar Shalake. Shala Beiman) Baba ( Alone on the stage). Hami Sashubariy jachhe ( He continues to say this and leave the stage) Baba. Bishwas korar shakti sabar saman noi. Police. aei niye jhagra hote hote. Kabuliwala ki Sashurbari Jacche? Page 4 . amar maal kheye paisa dibe na. Kintu ki koribo. they are walking in front of the stage. Rahamat takate pherat chaiyte gele se dhar aswikar kore. Aeijonya amar strir mone bhoy thekey gelo. Kinto tai bole bina doshe Rahamateke amader barite aste mana korte parlam na. Baba (Re-enters) Suncho? Ki Sarbanash ! Amader parar ekjon loker kache Rahamat kichu taka peto. After 30 sec Baba re-enters. Ke thik chinte parlam na to? Smiles… Rahamat? Jhuli nei. Baba is sitting quietly today. Tumi aaj jao. Amamr minir Biyer thik hoyeche. Abar aar ekta sharat kal eseche. Aami kichu basto achi. Se je keman kore jele din katachhe se katha ekbaro amader mone halo na. LIGHT OFF for 10-15 Sec only to show the scene change. Baba KW Baba KW Baba KW Baba KW Baba KW KW Bhabte abak lage je chotto Minita eto taratari ki kore ato baro hoye gelo. A bundle of money (Baba) LIGHT ON CD # 6 Baba’s Voice in the Background: “Rahamater 12 bachor jail holo. Decorate the room. Kato bachar ket gelo. Tumi aaj jao. Thik ache babu selam. Aaj aar karo sange dekha hobe na. to look what happens in a room if there is a wedding in the house. CD # 7 Biyebari Noise. Minir ekhon anek bandhu. Khonkike diben babu ? Page 5 Kabuliwala . Parbatir mato Mini O aei ghar andhkar kore nijer ghore jabe. pad and pen. Baba (Enters the stage) Aajke amar Minir Biye. Khonkike ekbar milte parbo na Babu? Aaj barite ekta masto kaaj ache. Tar katha amra sabai bhulei gelam. (Enters) Selam Babu. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Scene # 5 Stage: A table & chair. Mini… Mini… Mini…. Pujor chuutir modhye tar biye.KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore Baba Han Ma Bhitare Chalo. (Kabuliwala goes up to the door) (Kabuliwala comes back again from the door) Babu thora Pista. sharier aei abastha. Props: Paper packet Pista / Badam (KW). sei tej nei. Selam. badam khonkir janyo layatha. kabe ele? Kaal saamko jail se khalas hua. Looking very sad. (Scared) Aaj amader barite ekta kaaj ache. Taake aar tar babar ghoreo dekhte paoa jai na. Mini o take bhule gelo. PLAY HEART BREAKING VIOLIN HERE. Khonki amake chinte parlo na Babu! ( To audience repeat) Khonki amake chinte parlo na? Amar ledkio to amake chinte parbe na. all dressed up for wedding) Esho Ma. ( Purplexed). (Mini leaves) Mini (Big) Baba KW Baba KW THE SADDEST PART OF THE VIOLIN STARTS HERE. ) (Takes a bundle of money and give to Rahamat) Rahmat tumi deshe tomar meyer kache phire jao. Khonki tui aaj satyi santyi sasurbari jabis? Mini is very shy. continues to cry.) Khonki kothai? Chinte parle na. LIVE VIOLIN STARTS HERE. Ami tari mukhkhani mone kore. tomar khonkir janye kichu meoa hate loia asi. Amake poisa diben na babu. Tumi phire jao Rahamat tomar deshe. Rahmat continues to cry and say same thing that “Amar ledkio to amake chinte parbe na Babu” . Babu apnar jeman ekti ledki ache. KW KW Aapnar bohut daya Babu. She knows the meaning of Sasurbari now. Chinte paro? Rahamat? ( Looking for the little Mini. The Violin continues. Tomar Meyer? VIOLIN STOPS HERE Baba (Returns the picture to Kabuliwala) Mini ! Mini ! Shono Minike pathiye dao ta ekbar shiggir. Baba Mini tumi bhitare jao. Aami to saoda korte aasi na babu. Temni amaro deshe ekti ledki ache. Surprised to see the bride. THE SADNESS OF THE VIOLIN WILL SLOWLY FILL THE ROOM. Dekhen babu……(takes out a small piece if old soiled paper from his pocket and opens very carefully and puts it on the table) Baba KW Baba Eto choto bacchar hater chaap. (Rahamat breaks down. Page 6 Baba Kabuliwala . Tomader milane amar Minir kalyan houk. She faces down. Apnar daya amar chirokal mone thakbe.KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore Baba Eai takata rakho Rahamat. Rahamat? Aei to tomar Khonki. KW Babu. in between Baba gives his dialogue. Kar? Amar ledkir. ( Slowly a bride enters the stage. Baba (Takes center stage) Aajke bujhte parlam je . fatherly love. Continue the violin till here and blend with the Sanai. Kintu Rahamatke deshe pathano ta anek beshi prayojanio mone halo. very slowly rise up and listen to the music and slowly leave the stage) THE INTENSE VIOLIN CONTINUES UNTIL THE KABULIWALA LEAVE THE STAGE AND THEN SLOWLY THE INTENSITY WILL COME DOWN AND VIOLIN WILL STOP WHEN BABA STARTS HIS DIALOGUE AND THEN IT WILL RESTART TO REPRESENT A DIFFERENT MOOD. LET THE SANAI FILL THE ENTIRE AUDITORIUM FOR 20 SECOND AND THEN SLOWLY REDUCE THE VOLUME AND STOP. Amio ek baba.KABULIWALA By Rabindranath Tagore SPOT ON KABULIWALA KW (Continues to cry. bajna hok. Seo je. Minir mayer baro sadh chilo je Minir biyete aro anek beshi aloe hok. Minike dekhe Rahamat bujhte parlo je tar meyetio atodine aei rakami baro hoyeche. LIGHT OFF Kabuliwala Page 7 . Barir lokera ektu asantustho halo thikie. slight pain. Keep the CD & Violin volume low. SANAI GO FULL VOLUME NOW. People must here the last dialogue. But very light. Amio se. very important) Kintu Rahamater sange tar meyer miloner mangal aloke amar Minir subho utsavta satyi aaj baro ujjal hoye uthlo.) Seo ek baba. (VIOLIN STARTS AGAIN HERE. show a different mood. (CD # 8 STARTS HERE.