Chakra: Inviting audience to reflect on life’s voyage

By Renuka Dhakal,Kathmandu, July 25: ‘Chakra’ (The Wheel), a sensory theatrical play by director Ram Hari Dhakal, invites drama lovers to embark on a distinctive voyage of the senses. Through the play, Dhakal aims to help audiences delve into self-discovery and attain a deeper understanding of life’s true essence.

Dhakal introduced a fascinating sensory play, ‘Inside outside IIV’ last year, which took audiences on a tormenting journey of the civil war using their senses.

 Dhakal has continued to challenge the limitations of traditional theatrical approaches. Through his innovative approach, he immerses audiences directly into the play's experience, transforming them from mere audiences into active participants and characters within the narrative.

Instead of watching characters on stage, the audiences themselves become the characters, experiencing the narrative through the five senses. 

 During an hour-long play, the audiences are encouraged to realise themselves, welcoming a childlike sense of exploration and wonder by engaging all five senses.

This sensory-rich experience leads the audience to a metaphorical world, a platform for introspecting life from birth to death.

As the audiences explore their surroundings, they are plunged into total darkness. An overload of excitement and curiosity fuels the audiences to discover the unseen, interact with unique objects, and absorb the captivating sounds and aromas around them.

Dhakal’s ‘Chakra’ provides a transformative outlook on the true essence of happiness and the ultimate quest for freedom.

In this extraordinary sensory play, the onlookers are invited to review their life perspectives, reconnect with their inner selves, and embrace the profound wisdom imparted by the journey of existence. 

This immersive theatrical performance delves deep into the journey of life and the inherent struggles we all face, presented through the powerful art of self-realisation. 

As human beings, we are undoubtedly wise creations, yet we must navigate through various experiences in life—happiness, sorrow, success, and failure. However, in the pursuit of fulfilling our roles and responsibilities, we often lose sight of true happiness and liberation. 

The drama strikingly depicts the human condition, serving as a mirror for the audience to reflect on their struggles and desires, and to recognise the path to genuine happiness.

The narrative allows the audiences to intimately understand the yearning for liberation and the desperate quest to achieve it. 

This transformative perspective on the pursuit of true happiness and ultimate freedom invite audiences to reevaluate their lives, reconnect with their inner selves, and embrace the profound wisdom of existence.

Through this unique theatrical experience, Dhakal artfully conveyed the essence of life, leaving the audience with a renewed sense of introspection and understanding.

Staging of the play that began on July 20 will continue until July 30 at Mandala Theatre, Kathmandu.