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A multi-layered comedy
Minus any metaphors or subtleties, with just straight-out comedy and rapid-fire banter that had both the young and old in the audience in stitches, Imran Aslam’s Bela, Boss and Bullies, staged in Karachi’s Royale Rodale Club, is adapted from a German play for Gripps Theatre. The play is a treat to watch as it features the life of three children from three different segments of society.
Founded by the late Yasmin Ismail in 1980, Gripps Theatre promises to be fun, accessible and a symbol of quality entertainment. Faiza Qazi and Khaled Anam, besides being the other founder members of the troupe, have also contributed immensely in giving Yasmin’s dream a vision. And a good addition to the team is Khalifa Sajeeruddin. Today, Gripps has gained a reputation for producing excellent stand-up comedy plays with intrepid imagination and dexterity. Last year’s Jang Hai Basant Di was a success and this winter’s production of Bela, Boss and Bullies has been nothing less.
The play starts off with Bela (Ayesha Sheikh) and her mom (Faiza Qazi) deep in conversation. They have recently shifted to a new apartment and Bela, upset about leaving her previous home and friends, argues with her mom. Meanwhile, on hearing an ice-cream vendor, she goes downstairs where she meets Falana (Khaled Anam), a kid from the lower-middle class and Boss (Sameer Usman) a rich boy. It doesn’t take long for them to become friends. On being asked by Bela the meaning of his name, Falana tells her that he was the eighth child in his family, so everybody started calling him that.
If the play seemed to address the issue of children being neglected in large families or by busy parents, at the same time it also highlighted the exploitation of children at the hands of people who take advantage of their innocence and make them resort to petty crime unknowingly.
The late Yasmin Ismail was perhaps on everyone’s mind who, even after passing away, continues to contribute substantially through thought-provoking plays, making this society a better place to live in
The character Dhamaka, played by Sajeeruddin, is the bad guy who lures children into his gang of juveniles, warning them of severe consequences if they even think about leaving him. Falana is so terrified of Dhamaka that he borrows Rs500 from Bela and resorts to stealing to meet his demands. On finding about it, Bela tells him not to worry and together they make a plan to expose him with the help of Bela’s neighbour, Uncle Bajoowala.
Khaled Anam’s Falana is a showstealer as he excels no matter what. It was fun watching him pull off witty dialogue with precision with some excellent slapstick comedy to enhance the humour present in his character.
Later on, Boss and Falana start spending more time at Bela’s place whose mom gives them a good deal of attention and affection, something which they hardly get from their parents. The play reaches a turning point when the two get so carried away by the affection shown by Bela’s mother that they eventually decide to move in with her.
On finding his son missing, Boss’s father visits Bela’s home and tells him about how he has created problems for his mom who had to cancel her appointment with beauticians Qabeela and Farigh Ameen (guess who). Adding to the grim situation, he says, “Hum ne to bachchay ke sath laad pyar bhi nahin kiya phir bhi yeh bigar gaya!” Boss retorts: “Pyar is not pocket money which is something you give once in the month.” The beautiful and simple melodies composed by Khaled Anam also fared well.Bela, Boss and Bullies ends on a serious note for parents who do not have time to spend with their kids. And at that moment Yasmin Ismail was perhaps on everyone’s mind who, even after passing away, continues to contribute substantially through thought-provoking plays, making this society a better place to live in.
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