Moments In Px
From Darkness to Light
Cast and crew of the play, Green Finger, are busy getting their acts together.
Suman, the director, and the rest of the crew worked hard for four months to stage this play. Here, Suman touches on the finer points of putting the shades correctly, while Dinesh strums a lonely tune on the guitar, that’s missing a couple of strings.
Backstage. The crew also drew a lot of support from themselves since they were all novices and this was the first time that any of them had attempted something so drastic than their normal life. Here, Suprabha, Saroj and Bhavendra are seen resting for awhile before resuming their grueling practice.
Manoj, the eternal optimist and Dinesh during the rehearsal.
The troupe contemplating the task at hand, to go on stage and perform.
The play touched upon sensitive notes time and again. It called for the actors to dig deep within their moral fibers and act accordingly to their judgment. Things are easier said than done; emotions clash, priorities tangle and decisions are to be made. The play was filled with moments like these and the audience could easily relate to it.
Many a times, they did not believe that this play was going to happen.
The more they delved deep into the play, the more they learned. They felt this was helping them become stronger and be no less than common people, and have the capability to live independently.
Moments of indecision.
A warm embrace to clear the indecision. In the play, Suprabha’s love gives Manoj the courage to finally start the documentary despite threats from a corrupt and very powerful individual. Finally, the actors draw enough strength to see their project through.
United, we can. The age old theme has been tackled and presented very efficiently and the crew deserved a standing ovation for their dedication and hard work to bring this play to life.
Manoj, with his deep voice and an aura of seriousness fits perfectly in the role of Drishya. Born in Chitwan and studying in eighth grade now, he captivates the audience to stay optimistic and act as a bridge to bring his friends together.
Bhavendra, originally from Kanchanpur and studying in ninth grade, has a keen interest in literature, making him appropriate for the role of the scriptwriter in the play. His body language on stage spoke volumes.
Dinesh, born in Gulmi, the flamboyant musician who strums the guitar in pain and in happiness plays the role of Pal. He lost his ability to see when he was in grade six. Now a tenth grader, Dinesh mesmerized everyone with his stage presence and the ease with which he moved around the stage, between his guitar and amidst his friends.
Saroj, from Tanahun, who is Sanjay in the play, enters the stage sporting a pair of cool sunglasses and a helmet. Though he played a goofy character well, he is anything but that in his real life. Studying in eighth grade now, he was born without the ability to see but he is growing up with a lot of hope and dreams of becoming a politician one day.
Suprabha, who nurtures a dream of becoming a journalist, is in the role of Shruti. Courageous and charismatic on stage, she is the force that keeps the other four characters together. She is from Hetauda and preparing to take her SLC exams this year. In the scene when she gets up and walks across the stage to pick up the phone, no one believes that she can’t see completely.
Suman helped nurture a dream of first time actors, took up an unconventional approach to stage a play, despite all odds.
When Suprabha goes to pick up the phone across the stage, Dinesh enters from backstage, coffee in his hands.
On a drizzling August Saturday, cast and crew of Green Finger are busy getting their act together, literally. Suman Rayamajhi, the director of the play, is scrambling about to get the set right. “Feelings bhayena kya (Show more feelings)," he shouts and hops in the stage, takes the unresisting hands of his actors, guides them and makes them enact the scene. Again.
Manoj strums the guitars to sing a melancholic song, Saroj enters with his goofy helmet and goggles look.
It’s only a day left before their play is staged and the entire crew is getting jittery, if not nervous. It’s their first ever show and they are putting their all in the final rehearsal. Suman is hopping from the stage to the control room, adjusting sounds, rechecking the lights and making sure that things work when they should. The actors, still in their student uniform, are polishing up their dialogues and trying to get used to the ‘landscape' of the stage. They are moving around a lot, feeling the props, adjusting to the stage, to each other’s presence.
Bhavendra tries to convince his friends that they should stay together.
The five actors of Green Finger are not ordinary actors. For one thing, they are more in tune with their surroundings and they see things a little differently. Suprabha, Dinesh, Manoj, Saroj and Bhavendra learned their dialogues in braille and after four months of unwavering hard work and faith have found their way around the stage. They didn’t just have to learn to navigate like they could see the stage but also to etch various emotions on their face. They began as shy bunch of novices who barely spoke to their director but after months of rehearsals and learning what it takes to enact the expressions of being angry, confused, happy, sad, excited, in love, in pain and many emotions in between, they were able to get them seamlessly.
The audience cannot help but admire the enormous amount of courage these young actors have.
The director of the play, Suman Rayamajhi, who came to Kathmandu with a dream to go abroad few years ago, changed his mind when he entered a theatre and realized this is what he has been searching for all his life: lights, sounds and the stage. He believes that one needs to give things out of the ordinary a chance in order to realize one’s own capabilities. Green Finger was staged in Gurukul Theatre from August 10-18, 2009. It tells the story of five friends setting out to make a documentary and the obstacles they face—some created by themselves and some by others. It is an attempt to do something different and bring those who see and those who see things little differently closer. With Green Finger, Suman, the cast and the crew has proved that equality begins with equal opportunities.
( Oct 16th 2009, 05:13 PM ) says:
I love how they've first used a image of the group in the dark theater. As we flip through it, the images become more, you know, focused and we can identify the actors and can see the drama unfolding, as it were. I love that ! I love this symbolic way, it bodes well with the entire article, even though people might find it little difficulty in traversing through the narrative. what I love about this is the way how it ends, the images also speak the same when the writer ended it so: "With Green Finger, Suman, the cast and the crew has proved that equality begins with equal opportunities."
I'd sure want them to do some more. Bravo! Give me more.
( Oct 17th 2009, 01:27 PM ) says:
I live in Iowa and go to school here right now studying engineering but i am interested in writing. I'm Nepalese and was happy to see there is a magazine like this. I love this story. The Darkness to Light theme is very creative and love the way the photographer took he feelings of the actors. The story is very well written and I would love to see more. i wish i could take pictures too. Maybe some day I will. thank you.
( Oct 17th 2009, 07:07 PM ) says:
where's the audience? were they just rehearsing or were they performing the play in front of an audience. got bit confused. the photography is fantastic and the way story is written is fantastic too. good job, guys.
( Oct 20th 2009, 01:08 AM ) says:
This is simply marvelous!
( Oct 20th 2009, 01:56 PM ) says:
Sudip,
We were a day earlier for the audience! We showed up when the cast were busy rehearsing. We wanted to see how hard they were preparing for the play. Since it's their first ever performance, we could sense the traces of uncertainty, fear about them. But as we watched on, the 'darkness' was slowly dispelled by their confidence and their belief in achieving the task at hand.
Later, after a day or so, we were amazed by their performance. While in their rehearsal, they were fumbling around, but once they took stage, we could see how confident they were. It radiated off their performance. It was one of those play that we would not forget any time soon.
Thanks for the warm words.
The team.
( Oct 25th 2009, 07:51 PM ) says:
I enjoy the play, because I had staged it on my mind while i wrote it then I see it on the stage of GURUKUL, the second view that i viewed was finer.
( Oct 27th 2009, 12:06 AM ) says:
It was a greate honour for us to be allowed inside the rehearsals. We were inspired and moved to see the collective effort of the cast and crew.
To Gopikesh, we hope that you will write many more plays.
( Oct 27th 2009, 12:11 AM ) says:
What struck me most about these pictures is that the subject of the story will never get to see the photos...
( Oct 27th 2009, 02:54 PM ) says:
Gopikesh: Kudos to you. I hope you'll write more and more plays. We loved it.
( Oct 29th 2009, 05:14 PM ) says:
AWESOME !
( Oct 31st 2009, 11:09 AM ) says:
Thanks a ton, Umes dai :)
( Nov 5th 2009, 07:32 PM ) says:
Hey! Suman daju u did a great job; keep it up and keep going........
( Nov 6th 2009, 11:10 AM ) says:
Great !
It's very good and appreciative initiative by Suman and his crew.
I missed the play. But knew that they rocked it !
All the best Suman for your upcoming play !
Bhaju
( Nov 6th 2009, 11:44 AM ) says:
Reading this article has made me feel some what hopeful.. this proves what an individual is capable of.. if only they have the determination to keep on trying.. all are equal no matter the physical appearance.. and here is a solid proof..
great job!
awesome