About The Event
"Taj Mahal Ka Tender" is an original Hindi play that has set new records for successful performances. Unlike the Hindi theatre, which relies on translations and adaptations from Sanskrit, English, and other languages, there are only a few original Hindi plays that are rich in theatrical qualities and can be counted on one hand. Among those, plays that possess the true essence of theatricality are even fewer. In this scenario, "Taj Mahal Ka Tender" emerged as a relief on the stage and has become a favorite among many theatre groups. The audiences never seem to forget it. The play has been translated and performed in numerous languages across the world.
The play is based on the concept that Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, suddenly emerging from history, is enthroned in 20th-century Delhi and expresses his desire to build the Taj Mahal in memory of his beloved queen. Except for the Emperor, everything else in the play is contemporary. It portrays the entire government machinery, bureaucracy, petty politicians, various bribe-takers, clerks of different ranks who delay files for years, and officers, all led by a certain Gupta Ji who oversees the project. Despite all the arrangements, 25 years pass by swiftly. The middle-aged emperor grows old and bedridden, and on the day the tender for the Taj Mahal is about to be floated, he passes away.
The satire in the play targets today`s system. When we view it through the emperor`s eyes, from the height of his era, it appears even more horrifying. Amidst the uproarious laughter, we cannot remain untouched by the sense of despair the play aims to highlight - the public darkness created by India`s post-independence bureaucracy amidst individual selfish bankruptcies.
