Jungle Raj

The National School of Drama is ready with its new production 8212; German playwright Bertolt Brecht8217;s In The Jungle of Cities that has been adapted as Mahanagro Ke Jungal Mein. The multilayered story deals with a wealthy merchant and a clerk locked in a battle between commerce and idealism. 8220;India is fast turning into a society that upholds all kinds of indulgence. One cannot survive without working, and this is where the commercial structure steps in,8221; says director Robin Das, who graduated from the NSD in 1976. Though the elaborate sets and costumes recreate Chicago of 1912, Das has given the play a strong Bollywood feel with bright colours, a peppy opening song and hip-swaying dances. The characters retain their original name8212; Shlink, Garga, Jan8212; but mouth Hindi dialogues. 8220;Changing the setting to Delhi and giving the characters Indian names would have been underestimating the intelligence of the audience,8221; says Das, who believes the aesthetics, the message and, of course, the irrepressible need for entertainment will draw people to his play.