"Final Solutions" By Mahesh Dattani

 "Final Solutions" by Mahesh Dattani 

Introduction :-

'Final Solutions' drama penned by Mahesh Dattani. Mahesh Dattani's fifth play is titled Final Solutions. It was put on following the unrest in Mumbai. The drama highlights the interfaith conflict between Muslims and Hindus. Politicians use religion as bait, and the crowd becomes their scapegoat. Mahesh Dattani addresses the communalism theme.

In this piece, Dattani employs discrimination against a variety of religions and religious consciousness. The play delves into the theme of communalism and the deep-rooted religious conflicts that plague society.

About Mahesh Dattani :-

Mahesh Dattani was born on 1958 and he is one of the most celebrated playwright of India. His plays are well-known for addressing issues that society tries to hide or turn their face away from. He is continuing contributing the Indian-English drama. Dattani remarks himself, “The function of the drama, in my opinion, is not merely to reflect the malfunction of the society but to act like freak mirrors in a carnival and to project grotesque images of all that passes for normal in our world. It is ugly, but funny”.

He wrote such plays as,

"Final Solutions"

"Dance Like a Man"

"Bravely Fought the Queen"

"On a Muggy Night in Mumbai" "Thirty Days in September", etc.

Now let's discuss some questions in detail.

Q.1. How does Mahesh Dattani manipulate time and space within the dramatic framework of Final Solutions to create meaning? Explore the interplay of these elements with specific reference to the stagecraft techniques employed by the playwright.

A.1. 

Time :-

Dattani creates a multi-layered examination of racial tension in communities, prejudice, and the cyclical nature of violence in society by utilising these aspects to blur the lines between the past and the present. Dattani regularly jumps around in time, especially between the Partition riots of 1947 and the current intercommunal clashes. This draws attention to the enduring animosity within communities and the ways in which previous traumas continue to impact the present. The spectator can witness how historical events continue to influence characters' identities and behaviours through the use of their recollections. The play makes a potent statement on how history is continually repeated in people's minds by presenting both past and present occurrences simultaneously on stage. Dattani's fluid handling of time and space to reflect the changing thoughts and evanescent moods of the characters lends an innovative touch to the complex human drama involving a search into the past as a perspective to ponder over the malaise of the present.

Space :-

Dattani represents several locations, including the main family's house, the streets, and the locations of previous Partition riots, using a single set. The house, which is supposed to be a place of safety, turns into a conflict area that reflects the instability outside.

The play uses specific areas, such as the platform and the dividing walls, as metaphors for the barriers that exist between communities and the emotional and physical distances that the protagonists must travel. The protagonists' psychological emotions, such as their sense of captivity or their desire to rebel against social restraints, are reflected in the manipulation of these locations.

Stagecraft Technique :-

In Final Solutions, the chorus is essential to controlling space and time. By alternating between their roles as inhabitants of the past and present, they serve as a link between various eras. Their chants and gestures emphasise the play's themes' universality by fostering an environment that transcends time and location.

Dattani marks changes in time and location with sound and lighting. For example, low lighting could indicate a flashback, whereas high lighting could depict the harsh reality of the present. Similar to this, sound effects that transport the audience to various temporal and spatial realities, such as slogan chanting or the sound of riots, create an aural space.

Some props, like the communal flags or the partition walls, represent the differences in society. The stage is transformed into a dynamic canvas where the past and present mix thanks to the clever use of items to portray various locations and eras.

Q.2. Examine the complexity of guilt experienced by the characters in the play. How does this emotion shape their actions and relationships?

A.2. Guilt is a ubiquitous and complicated feeling that significantly influences the characters' behaviours, relationships, and identities in Mahesh Dattani's Final Solutions. The various ways that each character experiences guilt are a reflection of their individual pasts, social settings, and the underlying tensions within the community that underlie the play.

Hardika's Guilt :-

The old grandmother Hardika harbours a great deal of shame about her history. Her family saw communal violence during the Partition, and her memories of these incidents are tainted with anguish as well as a persistent sense of guilt for the hatred she still harbours. Her reluctance to let go of these old grudges, which still colour her opinions and relationships now, adds to her guilt. Her bitterness towards Muslims is an expression of her unresolved remorse about what she saw and did during the Partition. Her relationship with Bobby is shaped by this guilt, which makes her less understanding and more judgemental.

Ramnik's Guilt :-

Hardika's son Ramnik suffers from both personal and hereditary guilt. In direct contrast to his current attempts to be a voice of reason and moderation, he feels bad about his family's role in using communal tensions for financial advantage during the Partition. His incapacity to face his mother about the family's past and come to terms with the reality that he gains from their unethical behaviour is another source of his shame.

In an effort to atone for his family's past, Ramnik takes in Bobby and Javed, two Muslim boys who are escaping a mob because of his guilt. Even though he finds it difficult to admit this to himself or others, his acts are driven by a desire to rid himself of the guilt he feels, not always out of altruism.

Aruna's Guilt :-

The main lenses through which Aruna, Ramnik's wife, views guilt are those of religion and society tradition. The fact that Javed and Bobby are living in her home contradicts her values and feeling of purity, and she feels bad for not following her religious traditions to the letter. Relationship stress arises from Aruna's remorse, especially with her more progressive daughter Smita. Due of her guilt, Aruna follows ceremony and custom religiously, which irritates her daughter and makes her seem prejudiced and out of touch.

Smita's Guilt :-

As a member of the upper class shielded from the terrible reality of communal warfare, Smita, Ramnik's daughter, feels guilty. She regrets not being able to completely comprehend or combat the bigotry and violence that others, like Bobby and Javed, have seen firsthand. Relationships between Smita and her parents, especially her mother Aruna, become tense as a result of her guilt. They grow emotionally apart as a result of her progressive beliefs and her shame about her own passivity in comparison to Aruna's traditional ways. As she struggles to make sense of her privilege and Javed's actual experiences of discrimination, Smita's guilt also influences their relationship.

Javed'S Guilt :-

One of the Muslim youths taking asylum, Javed, is a complicated person who feels bad about his involvement in acts of sectarian violence. His acts, which were driven by a desire to claim his identity in a culture that marginalises him, leave him grappling with the moral ramifications. Javed's sense of self and his remorse go hand in hand. He is conflicted between his radical lifestyle and his sense of moral responsibility for the violence he has participated in.

Bobby's Guilt :-

Javed's friend Bobby feels guilty in a few different ways. He regrets renunciating his identity and religion in an effort to avoid the hostility of the community. His choice to choose a Hindu name Bobby rather than Babban is an expression of this remorse as he battles the idea of abandoning his heritage in an attempt to fit in. Bobby's sense of heroism and his remorse go hand in hand. He feels bad for not being able to stop Javed from engaging in violence and for not being able to defend his neighbourhood.

Generational conflicts within the family are largely shaped by guilt. Guilt is a complex feeling that has a significant impact on the relationships and behaviours of the characters in 'Final Solutions'. It pushes the protagonists to face their pasts and look for a solution to the problems that characterise their lives, acting as both a burden and a motivator.

Q.3. Reflect on your journey through Final Solutions as a student of theatre. How did the process of studying, rehearsing, and performing this play shape your understanding and appreciation of theatre?

A.3. 

Student of theatre :-

It would have been more insightful to discuss the play's themes of racial tension in the community, guilt, and prejudice. Theatre can be a potent vehicle for social commentary. It's captivated by the idea of stage fear, the characters, the background themes, and many more aspects.

Studying :-

As I have looked closely at the intricate relationships between the topics, characters, and narrative structure when I read Mahesh Dattani's work. This research may have included delving into the motivations and backgrounds of each character, comprehending the historical and cultural setting of the play, and investigating the play's bigger societal themes, which include identity, guilt, and communal tensions. I observed more about Dattani's use of language and speech to portray the characters' internal problems and external pressures. With its flexible use of time and space and the nonlinear narrative structure, I consider how these components impact how the audience interprets the story.

As I have learnt about Dattani's stagecraft methods such as the use of lighting, set design, and symbolic props to evoke deeper meanings and emotions had I studied Final Solutions. My understanding of the technical aspects of theatre and their role in storytelling would have grown if I had known how these components work in tandem with the script.

Through rehearsing :-

Investigated the characters' inner conflicts throughout rehearsals, focussing on how guilt shows up and affects their behaviour. The subtleties of depicting contradictory emotions in which characters struggle with their pasts while attempting to make peace with their present may have been brought to light by this procedure. Personally, I struggled a lot to capture the real expression throughout the play and the essence of emotions, but after a lot of practice, it would be possible. The nonlinear storyline of the play and Dattani's inventive use of space and time will have forced you to consider stagecraft and how these features might be used to improve the storytelling.

My Experience as performing this play :-

It was my first experience doing drama like the most famous 'Final Solutions' by Mahesh Dattani. It was a great feeling to engage with the original text of the drama and feel the essential beauty of coordination. The performance of the drama was not an easy task for me as well. First, we tried to read the original text and became familiar with the text and narrative structure of the drama. 

Then we played a game to unlock some features of ourselves, like feelings, expressions, action, and many more aspects. When you do the drama on stage, you have to involve yourself in the character that you play the role of. Then you need to feel the essence of dialogues, feel the character in you, practice and more practice, feel the stage, and do many more virtual things. Trust in yourself, feel the scenes, and make it more organic as well. After you dive into the path of drama, you feel like enlarge, something precious to say, and the things you express through your expressions.

Some glimpses of the Drama :-

Conclusion :-

In conclusion, the play makes the argument that facing these inner problems and getting over ingrained prejudices are necessary for real resolution through the characters' struggles with guilt, identity, and reconciliation. The conclusion's open-ended format illustrates how difficult it is to bring about long-lasting harmony and understanding in a divided society.

References :-

• Chatterjee, M. N. “Beyond Categories.” Indian Literature, vol. 53, no. 6 (254), 2009, pp. 237–39. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23348163. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.
• SHEYAMALA. M. 'Communal Disharmony in Mahesh Dattani’s Final Solution' https://iqac.kamarajcollege.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/3.3.2-CommunalDisharmonyinMaheshDattanFinal.pdf. Accessed 9 Aug. 2024.