Court Martial – Play Review

Aishwarya Ghuge.

Court Martial is a play written by Swadesh Deepak and published in 1991. Often, people watch and perform plays written decades ago so that they can either relive the times long gone or understand how the times have evolved. However, Court Martial is a play that is equally realistic today with regard to Indian society as it was 29 years ago, if not more so. We were and are a society engulfed with caste based discrimination, unequal opportunity, elitist education. But what happens when this discrimination seeps into or emerges out of a national force, the Indian Army?! What happens when justice to be delivered seems so obviously inclined towards one person and yet, maybe, it never belonged to the other in the first place?

Court Martial gives very unexpected and yet thought-provoking answers to these questions. The groundwork of the play is laid with a powerful and well delivered monologue by Col. Surat Singh portrayed by actor Susan Brar. He happens to be a war veteran who has been a part of many life and death experiences but he is about to preside over a case which will challenge him like nothing ever has and put him in a position of distress while delivering judgement. The soldier guilty of murder is Ram Chander. However, in another dimension, he is a victim as well. But the question is, is he “eligible enough” to get justice for the wrong meted out to him? Besides Surat Singh, Ram Chander is the most well written character in this play. However, his character portrayal could have been stronger and more convincing. But, especially in the climax, where Ram Chander seems to dwindle, Surat Singh more than makes up for it.

Court Martial is well executed and staged but the most memorable part of the play is its writing and the authenticity the actors have put forth in terms of an army man’s body language and speech. It’s absolutely a must watch for anyone who is even remotely interested in the social system of India, in the law and justice and in watching a well-rounded theatrical production. You will know that the play hit its mark when your mind will fill with questions you yourself will have to answer and notions you will be forced to challenge. It’s a difficult play to forget.