‘Bhramdosh’ explores identity, longing

The Theatre Lab, Chandigarh, presented a moving and thought-provoking Hindi adaptation of French novelist and Nobel Prize recipient Albert Camus’ celebrated play ‘The Misunderstanding’, staged as ‘Bhramdosh’ at the Gaiety Theatre, Shimla. Directed by theatre artiste Umesh Kant, the play drew the audience into a profound emotional landscape, exploring themes of identity, longing and tragic misrecognition within a family.

The story revolves around a woman, her daughter and her long-lost son, who find themselves entangled in a web of misunderstanding and fate. Their reunion becomes an irreversible tragedy, revealing how love and expectation can distort perception, turning the innocent into the condemned. The play reflects Camus’ existential philosophy, particularly his concept of Absurdism — the human search for meaning in a world that offers none.

The director said, “The play relies on stillness, glances and pauses to convey inner turmoil rather than dialogues. Every pause, every glance becomes a symbol of loneliness, separation and those invisible walls that rise between people even within the same home.”

Pranav Vashisth portrayed John, while Gunveen Manchanda was seen as Maria. Khushpreet Kaur played Martha Krin, the servant and Babita Kapoor took on the role of the mother. Parth Kaushik provided sound design, while Sumit Sharma managed lighting for the performance.