Nautanki Saala (नौटंकी साला)

Ladies and gentlemen please clap heartily.

Dramebaaz Theatre Company presents.

Raavan Leela welcomes you.

I am Ram Parmar, actor and director.

I request you to put your hands in your neighbors pocket.

Please switch off their cellphone.

Plastic bags, hand bags..

Please exercise the same caution, even with bangles.

However there is no rule against laughing and clapping.

For your information all the characters of this play.

Are not imaginary in the least.

So have fun.

A great actor is one who can lie with utmost conviction.

And one who can lie to uphold the truth.

That is a one hell of a drama queen!

The curtain never falls on this real life drama.

This is why I can't fall asleep doctor.

So you can't fall asleep?

Since when?

Mr. Parmar? Ram?

RP

It's common for us creative folks to face insomnia.

Doctor, you're a psychiatrist. Just give me some sleeping pills.

And I'll be fine.

Since when are you unable to fall asleep RP?

For the past three months.

You can't sleep even for a few minutes?

Not a wink, even after downing an entire bottle of rum.

A full bottle! Everyday? For three months?

Calories doctor. A human body needs 2500 calories per day.

I need this since I can't consume a morsel.

No food in three months?

What is the girl's name? RP?

C'mon its very common..even I have gone through the same.

You shouldn't punish yourself so much over one break-up!

Three break-ups! In 3 months?

Actually that suicide attempt Suicide attempt as well?

Suicide attempt..

It happens. A break-up, then loss of appetite, sleep then alcohol..

On top of that you're an actor.

All this culminating in a suicide attempt.

No, no doctor. Reverse gear.

A suicide attempt started this entire drama.

Drama.

Doctor, there is a Chinese proverb.

Nee jo luh tah de sheng ming, ta de ming jo you fuze.

Means..

If you save a life, you are responsible for it.

Go on.

I am a theatre actor, director.

3 months ago our hit play 'Raavanleela'.

Had completed 1500 shows.

It was also my girlfriend's birthday.

And, I was late to see her.

Hi Chitra!

Where are you?

Happy birthday!

Again? - Yeah once again.

I'll just put you on speaker phone.

Hurry UP-

I'll be there soon.

You said the same thing an hour ago.

That actor who plays Ram.

What that idiot?

Chandra sir had almost packed him off today..

Why does my boyfriend have to carry the weight of the world?

You know in life.

I know, in RP's rule book everyone should get a second chance.

Bye, love you.

Oh shit!

Lei so'. - um.!

Leave me! - No way!!

Don't move, careful.

My name is RP.

What's your name?

Be careful, you will cut yourself.

Don't move, don't shake!

What do you mean no?

Bro, where were you going?

It's housefull up there man.

Listen. Go home.

Have I met him?

Met him? You danced with him!

Harish's wedding? Don't you remember?

Hey buddy! Are you ok?

What's his name?

Oh come on Chitra! Don't embarrass me now!

He was part of our gang!

Buddy? He was the soul of the party!

Always smiling.

Full of..

Life.

So 'buddy'.. do you remember our dance?

Everyone will remember today's show!

Chandra sir was so happy!

Show collections were five lakhs fifty three thousand and..

And 390 rupees!

390 rupees.

How is the fish?

Dead!

No.

Bloody hell! Horror film! I almost died of a heart-attack!

I couldn't even take my own life.

I am good for nothing. A burden on earth.

You shouldn't say this.

...especially about yourself.

I brought a rope..

...chose an auspicious moment.

I was dying in peace.

Why did you save me? Why?

I'm sorry.

Actually if I hadn't seen you hanging that way.

I am genuinely sorry.

It was my first time, won't happen again.

Again?

Do you know how much courage it takes?

I'm sure.

God knows when I will be able to try it next.

Why are you speaking like this?

Why don't you try living? It's not a bad idea.

Ask your family.

Holy shit!

Holy shit!

You ok?

Holy shit holy cow bloody hell! Oh God no! - Relax!

The only family I have is my ajji.

What?

Ajji means grandmother.

My grandmother. She raised me.

Good show.

She raised you well.

Two days ago I sent her a letter.

Suicide note!

Sent it?

Already?

If she reads it.

Oh god!

OK. OK. You posted it 2 days ago right?

So she will get it tomorrow?

We'll go there early in the morning and grab it before she gets it.

No one will ever know such a letter was written.

Where does your ajji stay?

My leg was in a cast when Harish got married. Fracture.

Oh Yeah! It was hurting real bad.

It hurts even more when you lie to me.

Trust is very important in a relationship.

Well that guy. - You don't even know his name.

If I had asked his name, he would be dead by now.

He was committing suicide.

Oh my god.

I am sorry.

People like asking for help, you like helping them and I like you.

It is like a vicious cycle.

You could have dropped him at his place instead.

That's what I am about to do sweetheart.

He won't stay here for another minute.

I'll drop him at his grandma's place.

Immediately and be back before you know it.

Where does she stay?

Nearby Not too far.

Where exactly?

How do I explain this? I'll go straight, then left, then right.

And then continue straight on the expressway via Chembur to Pune!

Sorry?

Why are you sorry?

"The world's asleep. The sky's asleep."

"The world's asleep. The sky's asleep."

"The destinations are asleep."

"So are the routes."

"The world's asleep. The sky's asleep."

"The destinations are asleep."

"So are the routes."

"The world's asleep. The sky's asleep."

This is the accelerator and his is the clutch?

Actually opposite this.

Yes.

There is a brake as well?

I should drive.

"As the night grew those with homes, slept in their homes."

"As the night grew vagabonds like us, were lost in the darkness."

"The destinations are asleep."

"So are the routes."

Stop -

stop stop!

That is my ajji's house. Go.

Me?

Definitely not me! If she has survived my letter.

Then she will definitely die on seeing me, thinking that I am a ghost.

Who do you want?

Hello Ajji.

Who are you?

I am a friend of your grandson.

Mandar's friend?

Yes yes Mandars friend.

I wanted his birth certificate.

Now?

When Mandar was growing up.

He had attended a theatre workshop.

He seemed so happy!

He had written me a beautiful letter from there.