A scene from Innocence Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Imagine a world where the absurdity of Franz Kafka meets the vibrant chaos of modern India. A world where an innocent man fights a desperate battle for justice against a system designed to silence him. this is the world of innocenceA black comedy written and directed by Anmol Vellani, which will premiere in Bengaluru on May 10.
innocence Takes inspiration from Kafka’s iconic novel tests, transferring his eternal struggle for justice to the realities of 21st century India. As Anmol points out, “It is an adaptation in two ways: first, by transferring the story to contemporary India, and second, by translating it from a novel to a dramatic performance.”
The play tells the story of an unnamed protagonist who finds himself inexplicably accused of a crime whose nature is shrouded in mystery. As he navigates a complex legal system, his unwavering insistence on his innocence leads him down a path of despair and isolation.
Anmol acknowledges that there are inherent difficulties in adapting Kafka’s work. I am “adapting” tests Presented unique challenges. The novel relies heavily on long, descriptive passages to create fear and terror, which are difficult to translate directly to the stage with minimal dialogue. His job was to turn it into scenes full of dialogue, conflict and dramatic tension.
Preserving the original themes and character dynamics was paramount for Anmol. Reductions and additions were required to condense the 200-page novel, but retain its essence. Kafka’s factual, report-like prose, despite its absurdity, posed a challenge: What dramatic style best reflects it?
Black comedy emerged as the answer. “This allowed the characters to behave normally, highlighting the inherent abnormality of their situation while reflecting Kafka’s prose. Anmol explains, “The black humor is completely in line with what Kafka said in the novel, which conveys a serious message through a light-hearted lens.”
While the play highlights the absurd, it also has a strong undercurrent of social commentary. Anmol has carefully included references to contemporary Indian political events, including the questionable electoral bond scheme. “This nonsense was everywhere,” he admits. As I wrote the play, starting in 2017, I continued to incorporate these contemporary Indian references, but with caution.
This cautious approach ensures that the play’s core themes remain universally relevant while connecting deeply with Indian audiences familiar with these recent events.
“The political elements of the play are quite clear,” says the director. The dialogue directly references current issues in the country, albeit in a humorous manner. “Although it does not delve deeply into the underlying issues, it makes clear reference to various incidents, including the infamous case of sexual misconduct of a judge that led to his separation from the Indian judiciary. The play does not explicitly name individuals. However, these references are clear and impressive to those familiar with recent events in India.
At a time when creators face restrictions in mainstream cinema and OTT platforms, Anmol is hardly concerned about mentioning contemporary socio-political events. “The small size of the audience inherent in theater offers some advantages,” he says, adding, “When the audience is big, the government becomes worried because then you have real influence.” I can work under the radar with smaller audiences without worrying about recouping costs. Forget completely about the political implications.”
This freedom allows for a more nuanced and potentially critical exploration of sensitive topics. innocence A potentially thought-provoking production.
‘Innocence’ presented by Toto Funds the Arts will be staged from May 10 to 12 at 7 pm at the Goethe-Institut/Max Müller Bhavan, Bangalore. Tickets on bookmyshow.com.
