By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Joint production of Mahesh Bhatt and Sandiip Kapoor, “Trial of errors” had its inaugural performance on Friday evening at the Shri Ram Centre in the capital.
After the play, Mahesh Bhatt congratulated the ‘young dynamic crew’ and added that through this play they wanted to raise the issue of hundreds of Muslim youths who are languishing in jail, without a fair trial.
“I always believed that a play or a film can better put things across to the conscience of people than any number of write ups and that’s the message we wanted to convey through this play,” he said at the end of the performance.
The film-maker had all the praise for Delhi based Imran Zahid, who played the lead character of Mohammad Rehan, a journalist with an Urdu daily, detained by security agency on suspicion and harassed. “Imran is young and has long career ahead, he has constantly impressed me with his work,” Bhatt said.
Imran played the lead role of Iraqi journalist in Bhatt’s earlier co-production, “The Last Salute,” on the shoe throwing incident involving former US President George Bush by a journalist Muntadar Al Zaidi.
“Trial of errors” deals with ‘trust deficit’ among the Indian Muslim and revolves around the issue of agencies role regarding involvement of Muslim youth in terrorism, and revolves around a journalist Mohammad Rehan, on the lookout for truth of what is happening with the minority community in the country. His only fault is that he is one of ‘them.’ During the course of his investigation, he falls into a trap by the police and is embroiled in a vicious circle where the system puts him down on every single stride. The play captures his struggle to prove his innocence against the system that ultimately labels him a ‘terrorist.’
Rampur MP and erstwhile film actress, Jaya Prada who was also present in the audience, later praised the crew and extended her support to the cause.
In the form of narration, the play also tells the harrowing tales of torture they went through why in police custody, besides humiliation. In the play police asks the ‘pertinent’ question from Rehan, is religion more important for you or country. Almost to the comic effect the play also has a ‘patriotic’ Muslim officer, who heaps all sorts of allegations on him.
The play has a very interesting ending though, where in a rare soliloquy; a senior ‘sensitive’ police officer breaks down, lamenting the bloods in his hand and on his uniforms, giving the impression of Shakespearean tragedy.
The media plays the diabolical role and virtually there is media trial of cases. Writer of the play, Rajesh Kumar, who also scripted the ‘The last salute,’ earlier told TCN, “Media these days feed on stories leaked to them by security agencies and would not even pause to verify what is being broadcast…We have seen it time and again, without any lesson learnt.”
He added that his play is inspired by many real life characters, particularly from one of his friend who is a Delhi based journalist. He said, “He once went to meet some senior official in a security agency, but he was made to sit and ‘softly interrogated’ for four hours.”
Director of the play, Waryam Mast told TCN, “The play wants to send the message against labeling of whole community for the wrong doing of any individual.” He added that by raising the issues we want to invoke our audience to think in an attempt to find a solution.
Related:
Mahesh Bhatt’s play ‘Trial of errors’ to explore ‘witch hunting’ of Muslim youth