Manoj Mitra's Drama ‘Takshak’: A Deconstruction of Parikshit Story of the Mahabharata/ মনোজ মিত্রের নাটক ‘তক্ষক’ : মহাভারতের পরীক্ষিৎ কাহিনীর একটি বিনির্মাণ

Abstract

Manoj Mitra is well-known to everyone as a unique dramatist of recent times. He was also an accomplished actor, director and playwright. Manoj Mitra was associated with Bengali theater and film world for a long time. He has given us successful drama one after another. ‘Takshak’ is one of the successful and popular drama among them. It is a one act play based on the Parikshit story of Mahabharata. Though the story of the drama is taken from Mahabharata, the dramatist has skillfully adapted and presented it to suit the modern era. The conflict between life and death of a modern man is portrayed in this drama, and the way it is portrayed is simply amazing. At the end of the drama, death surrendered to life and victory song of life is announced. In real life, we lose the taste of life and it becomes boring for some sad event. But in this play the playwright has shown us through the character of Parikshit, that the life of seven days is as expansive as crossing seven seas. So, ignoring the fear of death and moving in natural rhythm is the name of life. We have to live every moment by fighting death, beating death, defeating death. This is the message conveyed in the play, which is not present in Parikshit story of Mahabharata. It is very sad to say that Manoj Mitra is no more with us. So, discussing his one act play ‘Takshak’ is actually just a small attempt to pay tribute to him.