It’s maa,mati,manush and Mamata for Bengal’s theatre groups

Ma Matir Lorai (the struggle for mother and land) — a jatra produced by popular group Silpa Mandir — is based on the Singur agitation and its chief protagonist shares many characteristics with Mamata Banerjee. “The main character,Mallika,is a village girl who fights against land acquisition. The script writer also refers to other incidents like Tapasi Malik’s murder,” says writer and director Asok Dey.

Bhairab Opera,meanwhile,is rewriting the script of a hit jatra from 1975,Ma-Mati-Manush,from which Mamata Banerjee is said to have coined her slogan. “My father Bhairab Gangopadhyay had written the script for the jatra that was performed 600 times. It was also aired on Doordarshan and Vividh Bharti. The script was about the time when the Left Front came to power,defeating the Congress. Times are changing and I think this is the perfect time to rework the script,” says Meghdeep Gangopadhyay,son of Bhairab Gangopadhyay.

Sradhanjali Opera is preparing for the similarly themed Maaer Aanchal Sukher Sorgo,while Nabaranjan Opera will be coming up with Langal Chalay Maatir Maa. “We have tried to include the incidents of mass resistance against the Government like Singur and Nandigram. The women are also being portrayed in a new light,where they are shown joining hands with men to fight for land,” says scriptwriter Tapan Das.

And what has the response been? “Overwhelming,” says Kali Ghosh,in-charge of Silpa Mandir. “We have just published two advertisements in newspapers and are already booked for the first two weeks. The rate is about Rs 50,000 per show. The first show will be in mid-September,” Ghosh says.

Trinamool Congress MPs Satabdi Roy and Tapas Pal are also adding much-needed glamour to the industry this season. “Last year the rate for their jatra was about Rs 1 lakh for each performance. This year it has shot up to Rs 1.80 lakh,” says Ghosh.

The Trinamool Congress is also supporting the endeavour of the groups and reaping publicity in return. “We will be arranging free shows of these jatras for the people,” says a senior Trinamool leader. “Many Trinamool Congress leaders from the Gram Panchayat level have already approached us for shows in their areas,” adds Ghosh.