BAKA-BAK in the current era

Baka is a political play that revolves around the bureaucracy, business class and the common man. The political state of affairs is highlighted through the story where demon Bakasura wreaks havoc in Ekhachakra Nagara. Originally written by MSK Prabhu, Baka was first adapted in the year 1975. Director Vinay Shastry explains its history, “This play reflects the situation at the time when the then PM of India Indira Gandhi called for an emergency. MSK Prabhu drew references from the mythological story of Bakasura.”

The writer beautifully co-relates the political situation at that time with story. “The writer tries to show how the country has been exploited by political parties, administration, bureaucracy and business men,” Vinay adds. This play tell the story of Bakasura who is known to eat excessively, and what happens in the city of Ekhachakra Nagara. Vinay adds, “Bakasura creates a lot of chaos when he enters the city. Therefore, the king makes a deal with the demon saying that each family from the city will provide the demon with food, and even one person (to devour) from the family. 

This law was forced upon the common people.” How people at the bureaucratic level and people with money exploit this play forms the crux of the story. “Through this play, we wanted to highlight how different the mindset of the bureaucracy is when compared to the common man. This issue has always been relevant, and will always be relevant because that is how the system works and that’s how the current state of affairs is,” Vinay explains. 

Polictians of the past and present tend to put themselves before the needs of the people. This is one theme that the play highlights. Raghuveera Samartha who play the role of a Mantri or Nagarapalika describes the character, “My character is the one that monitors the city and creates the rule. He manipulates people and will do anything that increases his power. He is known to do things that will benefit him rather the city.” Raghuveera feels that spontaneity is the one thing he learnt while working on this play. People with money tend to manipulate rules and laws to satisfy their needs and wants. Another theatre artiste has been a part of theatre for three years, and plays one of the four merchants in the play, Gokul R adds, “These merchants are calculative people who know various tactics to make more money. These merchants brown-nose the government to escape the law of giving provisions to Bakasura. They make use of this treaty to make more money by increasing the price of provisions.” In the play, no one has ever seen Bakasura. The demon appears only two times — when the treaty is made, and when he is killed by Bhima. Arun V Gowda who plays the iconic Bakasura elaborates, “In the entire play, the audience will get to see only my shadow. The one thing I have learnt while doing this play is that it is not important for the actor to be on stage, and seen to connect with the audience. The dialogues that I spoke from behind the screen were more than enough.” The play has been done in various locations across the city. The reaction it has garnered, Vinay adds, “The first reactions were very good and positive, as the play draws inspirations from mythological characters and the current political state. In any play, there are two sets of audiences — one who understands theatre, and the common man. Both have given very positive reviews.”

— This play will be staged on May 27 at Ranga Shankara.