Not so long ago, we visited an excellent exhibition at the Bristol Museum where through pictures and recordings, Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani people and their families told about their lives before the Partition of India and how it affected and broke out communities. So when we got invited to see the latest production by the Thelmas about two friends at the dawn of the Indian Partition, I was really interested in discovering the story of Santi and Naz.
Although devoid of many props, the play cleverly manages to convey a world filled with the colours, taste and sounds of an Indian village where the two young protagonists, Santi & Naz live. In their idyllic environment, the two best friends spend their time swimming in the river, checking out boys and buying tasty treats from the local sellers.
Santi, a sikh girl with her head always in her poetry books, tries to get her muslim friend, the cheeky and rebellious Naz, to be more serious about literature and learning English. Their religious difference has never been an issue and both girls are always taken part in each other’s family festive meals and celebrations.
Aiyana Bartlett and Farah Ashraf are touching in their portrayal of two young girls getting to grips with the confusion of their first feelings of love and attraction, while in the background political tension rises and sectarian violence starts to erupt.
At first oblivious to the real depth and implications of Lord Mountbatten’s plan to solve what he called the ‘Indian Problem’, Santi and Naz make funny impersonations of Ghandi\ and role play officials.
Watching them interact, one can feel how solid the two girls’ relationship is and it seems that nothing will ever come between them. However, their bond is truly tested, when Naz is promised to an older and unattractive but wealthy merchant. As the Partition becomes inevitable, Muslim and Sikh communities are split and the girls’ loyalty to their families threatens to break their bond until a fateful event changes everything.
Throughout the play, we see how life catches up with the two girls and tears them from their innocence and fun to the stark reality of political upheaval and religious differences. We can’t help but feel frustrated at the unfairness of the events that rock their world.
We enjoyed this touching story which gives a human face to an historical tragedy and would recommend the production that will be visiting Bedford, Birmingham. London and many other places which you can find out more about here.
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Thanks to Mobius industries for inviting us
