"SUMITRA" MALE OR FEMALE???

There was an audition for an English play Chakravyuha in my final year of college. My friends wanted me to participate, so I volunteered. The play coordinator narrated the story and gave us the freedom to choose our roles.

I was late and didn’t listen to the story, but I was very eager to choose a role since I wanted a female character! Why a female role? So that I could wear a gorgeous costume and lots of bangles! (I’m crazy about bangles!)

"Sumitra!" I said in a loud voice, thinking it was a female role. (Extremely loud to grab everyone’s attention, so no one else would choose it.) All the roles were finalized. I was so happy, already dreaming about my gorgeous dress and bangles. I was the first one to agree to my role, and I was very content with it.

The play coordinator then started narrating the story to each individual.

Since my role only appeared in the third scene, I was idle all day, watching everyone else practice their roles—all boyish characters. Finally, the day came when she narrated my part and gave me my dialogues.

Shocking! Four lines of dialogue—and it was a boy’s role! Not just any boy—I was the grandfather of the hero! The oldest person in the play! (Crying internally.)

What about my bangles? My gorgeous dress? Being the center of attraction? Hmmm... When I returned to class and shared the news, my friends had a hearty laugh.

I thought I would never do the grandfather role and tried bunking practice, but somehow they caught me and made me practice my four lines 40 times a day!

The play turned out very well. Everyone had fun playing with my big, bushy white beard. My friends couldn’t even recognize me in my old-man look. The makeup artist did a fantastic job of making me look so old and poor!

Sumitra... a male? That too an old man???

Originally posted on 16-August-2010

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