Natyanukriti’s latest stage production, Zahar (Poison) — written by Pankaj Soni and directed by Sanjay Sood — plunged deep into the corrosive nature of hatred and the healing power of repentance. Performed at the historic Gaiety Theatre, the intense two-character play examined how bitterness poisons the spirit, and how remorse can cleanse even the darkest corners of the human heart.
With just two actors on stage, the production managed to hold the audience’s attention for over an hour through focused storytelling, restrained yet expressive performances, and evocative direction. The plot centres on a wealthy but tormented businessman, portrayed by Abhay Thakur, who seeks poison from a mad chemist, played by Sanjay Sood, intending to kill his wife. In a poignant twist, the man becomes a target of his own malice—only to realise, in his final moments, the true worth of life and love. The chemist ultimately reveals that the poison was never real; instead, it was a metaphorical attempt to purge the man’s hatred.
While the concept carried philosophical weight, the production’s execution was uneven. Sood initially impressed with his eccentric portrayal and commanding Punjabi accent, but the consistency waned as the play progressed, softening the emotional impact of the finale. Thakur, as the conflicted husband, captured his character’s moral decay effectively, though instants of imperceptibility when facing away from the audience diluted key emotional beats. The background score provided texture but could not fully sustain the tension during slower sequences.
Finally, Zahar is an ambitious and thought-provoking work that dares to dissect the poison within human hearts, which has a potential to evolve into a truly promising production with tighter pacing and greater vocal.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
