Projects

Sakharam Binder

Perhaps the most ambitious and interesting production of a modern Indian work at Michigan State was Vijay Tendulkar’s Sakharam Binder, produced in 1979. The play chronicles the life of a womanizing bookbinder who picks up rejected wives of other men on the streets of Bombay and uses them for his own pleasure. This dark tale concerns serious social and cultural issues that resonate with American audiences. It deals with spousal abuse, a taboo subject in India, as well as in the west. Students found the harsh language and physical violence compelling, particularly since it challenged the conventional wisdom that India is a land of non-violence, tolerence, peace, and harmony, a land thought to be zoned out on religion and ritual.

I had a rare opportunity in developing the production. I was able to travel to Bombay just prior to the rehearsals to purchase costumes and props. Assisted by the stage manager of the original production and Rashne Dubash, a longtime friend, we haunted the back allies of Chor Bazzar (Thieves Market) to purchase the correct items for our work. With the assistance of a Marathi woman living in East Lansing, we were able to correctly tie the nine yard Marathi sari and the men’s dhoti’s and refine the physical movements. Seen at close quarters in our arena theatre, this was a powerful production, well-acted by our student cast. The newspaper review said of the play that it, “breaks through the hypocrisy of traditional Indian society where outward decorum may mask drunkenness, wife abuse and infidelity....Sakharam Binder is fascinating and provides a rare opportunity to see a thoughtful produce of another culture.” Bernie White, who played a small secondary role, went on to gain recognition in Hollywood. He may be seen occasionally on NYPD Blues, as well as other popular television shows and films. In 2003 Bernie played the lead in an off-Broadway production of the show. See http://www.amrep.org/people/bernard.html for further information about other productions of Bernie White.