Introduction of the play "Andha Yug"

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The play has 16 characters:

 

Ashwatthama

Gandhari

Dhritarashtra

Kritavarma

Sanjaya

Old Mendicant

Guard 1

Guard 2

Vyasa

Vidura

Yudhishthira

Kripacharya

Yuyutsu 

Dumb Soldier

Balarama

Krishna


Yuyutsu is Dhritarashtra's son who fights as a soldier of Pandava's army and survives after the war.


Structure of the play: 5 Act Play


Prologue

Act 1: The Kaurava Kingdom

Act 2: The Making of a Beast

Act 3: The Half truth of Ashwatthama

Act 4: Gandhari Curse

Act 5: Victory and Series of Suicide

Epilogue (Death of the Lord)


Karna has defeated Bhima, Yudhishthira, Nakula and Sahadev but he does not kill them because of the promise he has already given to Kunti. Arjuna kills Karna deceitfully when Karna steps down his chariot to take out the steeped wheel of his chariot. The playwright highlights the fact that the victory of Pandavas is influenced and determined by cheating and deception. Dharamveer Bharti portrayed a grim situation after the victory of Pandava where many people are unhappy, some of them are committing suicide and some are burnt to death.

The Age of Darkness is Kalyug. Only Krishna has the sense to discern and separate good and evil. Others are blind from mind, thought and reason. People in Andhayug are self enchanted, obsessed, confused and selfish.  

Ac1, 2 and 3 are related to the description of the 18th day of the epic battle.

Act 4 clearly demonstrates the way each human being has deep dark caves inside in which the evil side of that person is hidden intact and is in the wait of a weak moment when the evil can attack the goodness of the person fiercely and destroy it ultimately.


Act 5 is about the futility of victory and the playwright emphasized a deep realization if the Mahabharta was fought for dharma and justice and was righteous in all sense then why were its consequences not felt as good experience or omen. When some good deeds are done, then there is always a blessed and delightful outcome. But in this case, the playwright questions the outcome of this epic battle to be of "guilt."   

In Act 1, the playwright captures the evening of the 18th day of the Mahabharata. The kingdom of Kaurava is completely desolate and abandoned. People in the kingdom are depressed and extremely hopeless. 


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