The play ‘Sakharam Binder’ by the noted Marathi dramatist Vijay Tendulkar is a study of complex human relationships and the factors controlling those relationships.Set in a naturalistic background of lower middle class Indian society,the protagonist Sakharam binder who is a brahmin by birth,declares himself a mahar,a foulmouthed,heartless man.The play becomes a journey from the conscious mind of the protagonist,a self declared unconventional man to his inner self where he is a helpless human self craving for love,care,stability and symmetry.the dramatist presents his themes of triangular love relationships,power politics in man woman relationships,life style of economically backward people,and the myriad shades in womam-woman relationships.But above all,it is Sakharam’sjourney and the contribution of two women,one Laxmi and another Champa in unfolding his true self.
Vijay Tendulkar,one of the most famous among Indian English dramatists,mainly highlights different burning social issues and the predicament of middle class Indian society in his plays.A realist,he also shows the condition of women irrespective of class,caste ,creed and social status in our social scenario.His seminal play ‘Sakharam Binder’ which was published in 1972 and was banned in 1974 in our country not only highlights the role of sex and violence in maintaining relationship in Indian society but pinpoints the complex psyche of the characters specically Sakharam,the protagonist of the play.
The play is in three acts and the setting is totally naturalistic.
The locale is a mofussil town and the action takes place in a lower- middle class household. Sakharam in the very first act enters into in his house with a woman na...
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...s.It is as if ‘two different strands in his character come into direct confrontation,creating deep psychological turmoil in him and resulting in his temporary impotence.’
The play ends in complete reversal because in this game of power-politics,Laxmi ,the seemingly innocent character becomes victorious by capturing bewildered,helpless Sakharam.After Champa’s murder.Sakharam also surrenders to her.Sakharam’s surrenderto Laxmi signifies his surrender to female tenderness,surrender of his male ego to female self,and his return to conventionality.
Works Cited
Banerjee,Arundhati.Introduction.Five Plays of Vijay Tendulkar.By Vijay Tendulkar.Bombay:OUP,1992,Print
Tendulkar Vijay.Collected plays in Translation with an introduction by Samik Bandopadhyay,Oxford India Paper backs.
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Das, Veena Noble. “Search for Tradition in Karnad Drama: The Plays of Girish Karnad.” Modern Indian Drama in English. Hyderabad: Taurus Printers, 1988. Print.
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