Rangbhoomi, Kissago and Generations

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The lockdown has made us aware of the people we live with. 

And, our diet included:

Discord. Debates. Discussions. 

For most, living with family was surreal. Their habits, their thoughts, and their actions seemed different from their nostalgia that they fondly remembered. Life was no longer a Paper Boat illustration. 

What changed? We grew up! 

And how!? In a way our parents never did or even our grandparents never did. 

Away from family and our everyday rituals, many lived a life tasting freedom and during lockdown, a stay-at-home only made it uncomfortable with thoughts we don't connect with and with habits the elderly don't relate with.

We call this generation gap. 

And illustrating this was Generations, a play by Suryasnata Tripathy and directed by Jay Jha of Kissago at Rangbhoomi Spaces. 


The conviction of the artists and the emphasis on generation could be understood only post lockdown. Till then we were all living in our bubble, slurping on the frailties of life. 

The play is a journey of friendship, interspersed with poetry, domestic issues, and powerful acting by the protagonists and everyone who stepped on the stage. 

For me the most important and beautiful parts were: a. The poem that Rehaan recites when his girlfriend dances and 2. the scene at the park between Rehaan and Mathew. 

The play would not have been complete without the light and the sound effects, which I am grateful for. 

Watch the play at Rangbhoomi, Hyderabad, a space as beautiful as the name. 


**

I could not stop myself from writing a poem.

Here is a poem for Rehaan 

for his father: 


a thunder in your voice 

breaks my dream 

limbs, designed to embrace 

abuse your own race 


Who are you, to raise a hand 

And simmer my demand? 


Who are you, to scar affection

and taint it

with your deception 

Who are you to tell me

to limit my desire? 

Who are you to decide 

I must douse passion like fire? 

I will not. 

I will live. 

I will love. 

I will dream.

I will cry. 

I will scream. 






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