Review: ‘Khabar Hareyako Chitthi’

‘Khabar Hareyeko Chitthi’ is a theatric representation of the hardship, and struggle the families of missing people are still facing across the nation. The 80-minute play is being staged at the Mandala Theatre, Anamnagar, since last Friday. Directed and conceptualized by 12 aspiring youth artists, the drama also shows their undying willpower to seek justice.

The play opens with the story of Manraj (Kedar Shrestha), a typical village messenger (Kutwalkaraune) whose son had disappeared during the Maoist insurgency. Manraj, who notifies the village of any occurrences, on this occasion is at the receiver’s end. Ironically, the messenger is shown desperately awaiting the news of his son’s whereabouts. On a similar note, the second story of the play portrays the story of Sancha Maya (PashupatiRai), who lost her husband during the SakelaParva.  The third story is about the poor parents played by AkanchhaKarki and Sudam CK whose son had gone missing.

By portraying the story of three different families, the production team has successfully expressed the emotions and sufferings of the families affected by the 13-year-long Maoist insurgency. The play also raises the issue of the snail-paced judicial system that has failed to provide justice to the affected families.  

The cast comprising actors like Pashupati Rai, Akanchha Karki, Sudam Ck, and Kiran Chamling ensures a top-class storytelling, dialogue deliverance, and emotion portrayal throughout the play. To give a realistic scenario of the rural lifestyle, the stage has been arranged in par with the rural settings of Nepal, including the stage props and character’s wardrobe. 

The minimal lighting helped provide a gloomy outlook to the scenes which aligned with the slow-paced story. The story, despite a slow start, captivated the audiences as the play advanced.