Theatre gave me satisfaction that no other job could, says Chandigarh theatre actor and director Surinder Arora

While the larger story is of the eternal struggle between the human heart, mind and body, Arora, has created a new subtext to this deep subject, that of desire. “We are all in search of something that will make us complete, and that search is fuelled by desire. I feel one has to chase those desires in order to seek happiness or contentment of any kind,” said Arora.

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This is a learning he has also got from his own life. Armed with a Masters in Psychology, he pursued a marketing job in Delhi.

“But this desire and passion for theatre was always there as I had been doing it all my life and I was incomplete without it. We often end up living someone else’s life or dreams according to societal norms. But theatre is one place that gave me a satisfaction that no other job could,” says Arora, who left his plush job, struggled in Mumbai for a year-and-half and realised that he needed to upgrade his knowledge more.

“So, I took admission to Department of Indian Theatre and after graduating, here I am with my play,” says Arora, who is originally from Sirsa, Haryana.

The story of Devdatta, Kapila and Padmini, The Transposed Desires takes a look at their lives, and carries the story forward through two dolls who come alive at night and converse with the audience.

“Devdatta is the Brahmin, the ‘gyaani’, who marries Padmini, while Kapil is the wrestler, the handsome body builder who is his best friend. With Devdatta lost in his world of books and work, Padmini finds comfort and answer to her desires in Kapil,” Arora narrates the story, which eventually takes a turn at a Kali Temple where both men behead themselves and Padmini, to fulfill her desire and find the complete man, switches the heads. “But here’s where the mind takes over the body, for Devdatta with Kapil’s body goes back to books and neglects his health while Kapil with Devdatta’s gets into body building,” adds Arora.

A complicated subject that brings out issues of identity crisis, a woman’s sexuality, the physicality and intellect of men, appearances and expectations, socio cultural norms, The Transposed Heads, says Arora, has been interjected with humour, music and Kabir’s dohas to make it entertaining and engaging.

“The music is a blend of folk and classical and given by Sandeep, Gurseak and Dheeraj. Kabir’s dohas are so human, from a common person’s perspective, hence the relevance, although we have used Karnad’s poetry too… Bandhe Kyun iss pyaar ko ek deh ki dor se…Bhool karein aur bandh jayein kyun Ek prem ki dor se. As for humour, I feel it is important to relay the message and Chandigarh needs more of theatre groups to come up and do more such entertaining shows,” feels Arora.