Banchharams Orchard and an Encounter with Royalty

These farcical comedies by Bengali playwright Manoj Mitra take a sharp dig at class and caste relations in rural India under the guise of rollicking humour. Banchharam’s Orchard (Sajano Bagan) tells the hilarious tale of old Banchharam who, by his refusal to die, out-manoeuvres all those who are waiting greedily to lay claim to his valuable and beloved orchard, particularly the greedy zamindar who hungers for his death. An Encounter with Royalty (Rajdarshan), turns the pomp and power of kingship on its head as an impoverished old brahman enters the body of dead king. Manoj Mitra is amongst the best known and most widely produced playwrights of Bengali theatre. He is also a well-known actor and director, and heads the theatre group Sundaram. Ranjan and Sangeeta Ghosal, husband and wife team, are both in advertising and active in theatre. They are based in Bangalore.