The Role Of Drama In Sakharam Binder By Vijay Tendulkar

The presence of Drama in the form of performative elements both dramatic and theatrical in almost every society throughout civilization is predominant. In the past the function of dramatic performance was evident in the rituals which witnessed enactments that portrayed the culture, beliefs and social being of a particular community. However in due course of time these enactments of rituals and ceremonies ceased to exist whereas dramatic performances were enacted simply for the sake of enjoyment and entertainment. Yet as the years go by the dramatist and playwright saw something else beyond ceremonies and entertainment. Drama was then viewed as an effective medium for the portrayal of real life itself while its objective circulated around creating

Most of his themes are based on real life situations while his characters are portrayed in the most realistic manner possible. The play ‘Kamala’ was actually inspired by a real life incident – the Indian Express expose’ by Ashwin Sarin , who like Jaisingh in the play , bought a girl from a rural flesh market and presented her at a press conference to expose a flesh trade racket. In another play , ‘Sakharam Binder’, Tendulkar exposes another masochistic practice whereby men arranged contractual cohabitation based on convenience with single women who have been deserted by their husbands or have walked out on them. Such men would bring home wives, have their way with them for a certain period of time, ill treat them and throw them out when they have had their fill. The concept of extra – marital affairs and unmarried pregnancy which is also colored with realism forms another subject matter of Tendulkar’s plays. ‘Silence the court is in session’ portrays this social taboo where even in real life is unacceptable in our society. In the real India the woman is expected to adhere to the rules and norms of society whereas the man is endowed with the right to indulge himself irrespective of his marital status or his relationship with the woman. Leela Bernare’s trial is evident of the actual reaction that a typical

Each play tells the audience or the reader of a pre dominant problem that infects the middle class Indian society. In ‘Kamala’ although Jaisingh’s action of purchasing Kamala at a flesh trade market seems to portray him in a positive light yet his intentions say otherwise. His aim to expose the flesh trade racket was clearly secondary while the primary objective was simply to boost his image and career as a journalist. Even in modern day most organizations dealing with journalism and mass media seem to be interested in what sells rather than the truth where the singular motive is to improve their ratings at any cost, be it at the expense of an individual’s prestige. On the other hand, in the play ‘Sakharam Binder’, Tendulkar deals with another regular social problem which is domestic violence. The ill treatment that Lakshmi faces in the hands of Sakharam physically, mentally and emotionally brings us face to face with the ordeal that an abused ‘kept woman’ experiences day after day. Sakharam views Lakshmi not as a human but an object of gratification whose sole purpose is to fulfill his every need. Tendulkar shows the dehumanization of a woman which is an everyday affair in the middle class Indian society, where she is regarded more like an object with a limited utilization period. The cynical and negative attitude of the Indian society