Mahesh Dattani's *Tara*: Themes and Setting

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Questions and Answers

How does Dattani use the play's setting to reflect the state of the families within the story?

He uses fragmented settings to mirror the fragmented nature of the families.

What is ironic about Chandan changing his name to Dan and living in London?

He is trying to escape his past and guilt but is using his 'freakishness' to write about the past, so he cannot escape. It is also ironic that he is running to the West, but he is writing stories about the British Raj.

How does Dattani emphasize that his plays are meant to be experienced rather than simply read?

Dattani refines his dialogue through rehearsal with actors to ensure it is effective when spoken aloud.

What does the play suggest about the societal preference for male children in India, as highlighted by Erin Mee?

<p>The play illustrates how this preference can lead to the manipulation of medical decisions and family dynamics, disadvantaging female children.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Dan's internal conflict regarding his identity as an intellectual and an immigrant?

<p>It represents the struggle with authenticity versus exploitation. He grapples with shedding constructed identities to find genuine inspiration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do the brass tumblers symbolize in the context of Bharati not wanting to unpack them?

<p>They symbolize her disconnection from her father's values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the character Roopa's behavior reveal her true intentions toward Tara and Chandan?

<p>Roopa's initial sweetness quickly turns sour, betraying an underlying nastiness and social climbing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the impending kidney transplant serve as a plot device and a metaphor in "Tara"?

<p>It is an external conflict which reveals the internal emotional and familial conflicts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the play, what does Bharati's insistence on Tara gaining weight reveal about her anxieties?

<p>Bharati is anxious about Tara's well-being and her desire to control aspects of Tara's life. It also shows that she uses food as a means of displaying affection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of Patel insisting that Chandan come to work with him?

<p>Patel is overbearing, applying a heavy hand to dominate his son who he can control, because he cannot control his wife.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Roopa spreading word that the family is wandh tarah?

<p>Roopa is alienating the twins, trying to turn everyone against them by saying that they are odd types.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is revealed when Bharati tells Roopa that she did not ask her to become the twins' friend?

<p>Bharati said to Roopa, &quot;No, she didn't ask me, she bribed me to be your best friend.&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the fact that doctor Thakkar interviews take place in a lit stage, and Dan's interview takes place in the dark?

<p>Doctor Thakkar is presenting facts, while Dan is coming from a place of mental darkness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Dr. Thakkar's clinical description of the twins' condition contrast with Dan's emotional and personal reflections?

<p>Dr. Thakkar provides a detached perspective, while Dan grapples with guilt, identity, and personal history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Chandan insist Tara is 'It's his very first' when she asks if he's sure it's Brahms?

<p>Chandan clings to small victories to feel control over Tara. These are the small jabs that occur throughout the play between them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Analyze the exchange between Tara and Chandan about whether or not women are more mature by nature.

<p>Chandan suggests that Tara just say that to make people think that they are smarter. Tara then calls her father as equally 'smart'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Examine the moment when Roopa says, "I think it's more civilized to drown her in milk, if you ask me."

<p>Here, Roopa is showing her true colors. This is not someone to be trusted since they are not to be taken at face value.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Tara's desire for 'the real ones' when she and Chandan are stargazing reveal about her character?

<p>She may be referring to wanting natural human connection that is not influenced by a disability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Roopa saying, "Standard VIII. Her best friend."?

<p>Roopa sees this as a put down. Not only does she think of herself as smarter, but also comes from a &quot;better&quot; background than the twins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Tara mean when she cries "She drew the receptionist aside"

<p>Tara feels slighted and targeted. She wants to be seen for who she is but cannot.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Tara mean when she says that mummy asked the doctor "to tell the allied party"?

<p>Allied party represents the people she feels most close to: herself and her brother. She sees others as adversaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Chandan's act of offering some 'fresh air' to Tara on the streets of Bombay serve as a symbolic gesture?

<p>It's an attempt to liberate Tara from their stuffy house. It is an act of vulnerability that he has not offered before.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Dr. Thakkar mean when he says, "Our greatest challenge would be to keep the girl alive. Nature wanted to kill her."

<p>Here, the audience learns the truth about the initial operations from years ago. It serves as a moment for the audience to see the events in a different perspective.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Patel use the memory of Tara and Chandan as babies, hugging each other, to manipulate Bharati?

<p>He evokes this tender memory to elicit guilt in her. He attempts to shift the narrative and control her actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Throughout the play Tara wants to know about "him." Who is "him"?

<p>She is referring to her grandfather, who arranged for Chandan to keep both legs when they were first separated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Dan mean when he says "Without meaning"?

<p>Dan's journey is meaningless. Even Tara, who is the most meaningful person to him, has been forgotten.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Dan mean when he asks forgiveness from Tara?

<p>Dan is shouldering the blame for a broken family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't Dattani fully write out the ending of his story, instead finishing with "They kneel, face to face. Forgive me, Tara. Forgive me for making it my tragedy..."?

<p>Because there is no ending. Every play needs a hero or villain, but that is not the story Dattani is telling.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the dialogue between Tara and Chandan reflect the theme of sibling rivalry and dependence?

<p>Their conversations are often a mix of affection and sharp comments. They also test the boundaries of personal freedom versus mutual dependence.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Patel mean when he says to Bharati, "You want her to believe you are the only one who loves her!"?

<p>There is truth in this. She does this for their own mental health, but that has come at the expense of everyone else.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Bharati’s mental state influence the dynamics of her relationship with Tara?

<p>Bharati is concerned about Tara’s physical well being. It also shows that she uses food as a means of displaying affection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the character of Dr. Thakkar function as more than just a medical professional?

<p>He contributes to the deeper themes, while Dr. Thakkar represents the ethical ambiguities of medical advancement.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What themes are conveyed in the scene where the Roopa brings a poster to the Patel house?

<p>This highlights themes of alienation, external judgment, and the price of being different. The family is a source of rumors, scandals, and lies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Patel's outburst about Bharati turning Chandan into a 'sissy' comment on traditional gender roles?

<p>It reflects societal expectations and anxieties about men engaging in activities considered feminine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the dramatic purpose of interspersing scenes of Dr. Thakkar's interview throughout the play?

<p>It provides a sense of realism and authority. It contrasts with the emotional volatility of the family drama.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What motivates Dan to 'masticate' the memories of his past and 'spit out the result' in anger?

<p>Dan does not want to revisit the past because it is too painful. He also said that it makes him revisit his ugliness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why has Dattani made Tara call Chandan every single name?

<p>Chandan has been put on a pedestal, but Dattani may be alluding to Chandan having a dark side as a coping mechanism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Tara alluding to when she asks "What makes you think I mind?"?

<p>Tara understands that she is a burden to her brother, and she would rather he love her than pity her.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the quote: "Give me a moment and the pain will subside. Then I can function again. Yes. The material is there. But the craft is yet to come."

<p>As a writer, the pain of the past is a burden. It is material to turn what he knows into something artistic. However, the journey to becoming a successful writer requires hard work and a degree of separation from his family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the quote: "Someday, after I die, a stranger will find this recording and play it. The voice is all that will remain. No writing. No masterpiece. Only a voice-that once belonged to an object."

<p>This quote emphasizes the central themes of identity construction, memory and absence. It is about legacy and what is left of a person after they are gone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Mahesh Dattani's Focus

Playwright addressing taboo subjects related to Indian society in a way that challenges traditional norms.

Main plot of 'Tara'

The emotional separation of conjoined twins, manipulated for favoritism, is the central theme.

Conjoined twins

Identical twins joined in utero

Tara's Dual Meaning

A play about gender identity, but also about the challenges faced by a girl child.

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Dattani's Play Development

Dattani's plays are workshopped first, emphasizing spoken dialogue over written word.

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Themes woven into Tara

Issues of class, community, traditions vs. modern values, and gender.

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Siamese Twins

A medical term for twins that are joined physically.

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Separation Surgery

A surgical procedure to separate the bodies of conjoined twins

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Tara's Character

The play's protagonist, a strong but physically challenged girl.

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Chandan/Dan's Role

The male twin who escapes to London and grapples with his sister's death.

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Bharati's Manipulation

The mother's manipulation to favor the male twin over the female one.

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Unequal Blood Supply

A condition where one receives blood supply for a leg better

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Who is Mahesh Dattani?

The playwright of 'Tara', whose work addresses taboo subjects.

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Where is Dan living?

The location where Chandan moved to escape guilt about his sister's death

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Who is Dr. Thakkar?

The Doctor in the story, who preformed the operation.

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Study Notes

Playwright and Subject Matter

  • Mahesh Dattani explores the dynamics of modern urban Indian families.
  • His characters grapple with tradition, gender roles, and suppressed desires.
  • Dramas unfold on multi-level sets that blend interior, exterior, and geographical locations, mirroring the fractured lives of the families.
  • Dattani addresses "invisible issues" within Indian society that are typically considered taboo such as feminsim or being gay, like gay issues or sex outside of marriage.
  • Staging taboo subjects promotes public discussion, challenging traditional views of 'India' and 'Indianness' in modern theater.
  • Dattani urges other playwrights to honestly mirror Indian lives in their work.

Tara: Central Conflict and Themes

  • The play centers on emotional separation between conjoined twins.
  • A mother and grandfather manipulate their physical separation, favoring the boy, Chandan, over the girl, Tara.
  • Tara struggles with fewer opportunities compared to her brother despite potentially being more intelligent.
  • Dan attempts to repress guilt over his sister's death by erasing his personal history and changes his name.
  • Issues of class, community, and the contrast between traditional and modern values are woven into the narrative.
  • The play explores the gendered self and acceptance of one's feminine side.
  • Tara can be seen as a play about the challenges faced by the girl child in India.
  • In writing his own story, Dan rediscovers Tara's story

Production and Staging

  • Dattani workshops all his plays, including Tara, with his company Playpen in Bangalore.
  • Dialogue receives final touches during rehearsal, emphasizing the play's performative rather than literary nature.
  • Tara was originally performed as Twinkle Tara, and later gained popularity in Mumbai and Delhi.
  • The play is set to be included in the contemporary Indian plays collection, Drama Contemporary: India.

Act I Setting and Dan's Introduction

  • The set includes a multi-level stage, with Patel's house at the lowest level representing memories.
  • The middle level portrays Chandan's bedsitter in London, the only realistic setting.
  • A higher level features Dr. Thakkar in a chair, symbolizing his god-like influence despite not directly interacting.
  • The galli outside the Patels' house is depicted using cross-lighting.
  • The act begins with Dan at his writing table, breaking the fourth wall to speak to the audience about the challenge of capturing emotion in drama.
  • Dan reveals his attempts to process his memories, using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
  • He discloses his forgotten twin sister, Tara, as music begins to play.

Early Conflict and Family Dynamics

  • Tara and Chandan are depicted playing cards.
  • Tara is winning at the game.
  • A discussion ensues regarding brass tumblers and Bharati's reluctance to unpack them.
  • The scene also touches on Tara's health with Dr. Kapoor concerned because she has lost weight, and the mother Bharati seems obsessed with her daughter being thin.

Roopa's Visit and Tara's Health

  • Roopa's visit to the Patel house reveals her intentions and relationship with Nalini and Prema.

Doctor Thakkar's TV Interview

  • Dr Thakkar discusses the Patel twins' surgery from a medical perspective.
  • He notes the rarity of their condition and the complexities of their conjoinment.
  • The twins being of different sexes, is very rare.

Act II: Aftermath of Surgery and Family Secrets

  • Bharati is overly affectionate towards Tara after her surgery.
  • Dan reflects on a scrapbook containing news cuttings about the twins, Dr. Thakkar, and interviews with his parents. DR THAKKAR. Complications were expected with the pelvic region, only one bladder.

The End

  • A street poster 'we dont want freaks'*

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