Mrichchhakatika portrays metaphorically the essential conflict of social beings torn between good and evil. On one hand, there are the king Palaka and his brother in law, Shakara – rich, mighty and rogue. On the other hand, there is a trail of poor persons like Charudatta, Sharbilak, Sambahak, Durdurak, Sthabarak, Bardhamanak, Madanika, Radanika, Goha, and Ahinta. But there is only one exceptional character – Basantasena, the protagonist. She is rich but characteristically truthful. Her inherent honesty indulges her to forsake all her treasures and ornaments and embrace the destitute Charudatta.
In this play, the clay cart plays the most symbolic role, so when it appears on the stage, laden with gold ornaments, the very inanimate cart becomes the ideogram of honest animated beings – an incarnation of the principal theme of the play.
- EiSamay- 05.12.18: https://eisamay.com/entertainment/drama/a-new-theater-production-by-goutam-haldar/articleshow/66950995.cms
Interviews
- Eisamay- 15.06.13: https://eisamay.com/entertainment/drama/gautam-halder-interview/articleshow/20600267.cms
- AnandabazarPatrika- 02.08.14(DebshankarMukhopadhyay): https://epaperarchives.anandabazar.com/paper/4-21-02@08@2014-1001.html
- Ami Arts Festival- 15.02.23: https://articulate.org.in/borda-borda-and-the-theatre-of-bengal-goutam-halders-interview-at-ami-arts-festival-2022/
