![Battle of Wits Battle of Wits](https://cdn.magzter.com/Outlook/1700561777/articles/OEkv-4G691700590249669/BATTLE-OF-WITS.jpg)
THE stage is bathed in mellow lighting that imparts a warm ambience to a living room where an elderly man is ensconced in a large, well-padded single-seater sofa. Khushaal Mehndi is glued to a cacophonous programme on TV because he has nothing better to do. When the TV goes on the blink, he is helpless. Like most citizens his age, he is not too adept at handling new gizmos, including the sofa which has a leg rest that juts out suddenly if he inadvertently presses a button on its side. The phone on his table is a black landline with which he manages to get small jobs done. The scene is set for Purane Chawal, a sparkling Indian adaptation of the Neil Simon comedy, Sunshine Boys, produced by D for Drama and directed by Sumeet Vyas for the recently concluded Prithvi Festival in Mumbai.
With the always dependable Kumud Mishra and Shubrajyoti Barat playing the lead roles, Purane Chawal is about two actors past their prime. Once, Mehndi and Vijay Das had reigned supreme as comic actors. Their partnership saw them, unfailingly, bring the house down for 42 years. But suddenly, one not so fine day, Vijay Das (known as VD), called it quits. He had had enough of doing the same play, day in and day out. And he thrust his decision on his co-actor without consulting him. It was a betrayal Mehndi never forgave. "He decided to retire and forced retirement upon me as well. I was not ready for retirement," he tells Vicky, his nephew-cum-manager, bitterly. Indeed, becoming a couch potato and surviving on bun-maska and chai are not really Mehndi's cup of tea. Ten years down the line, he is still rearing to go and waits eagerly for the phone to ring, with offers of roles in theatre, cinema or even ads.
Denne historien er fra December 01, 2023-utgaven av Outlook.
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Denne historien er fra December 01, 2023-utgaven av Outlook.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Layers Of Lear Layers Of Lear](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/GG1vuyCV91734076349724/LAYERS-OF-LEAR.jpg)
Layers Of Lear
Director Rajat Kapoor and actor Vinay Pathak's ode to Shakespeare is an experience to behold
![Loss and Longing Loss and Longing](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/tVUvrnQuq1734076210174/LOSS-AND-LONGING.jpg)
Loss and Longing
Memories can be painful, but they also make life more meaningful
![Suprabhatham Sub Judice Suprabhatham Sub Judice](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/Zhe7tSK-e1734075974472/SUPRABHATHAM-SUB-JUDICE.jpg)
Suprabhatham Sub Judice
M.S. Subbulakshmi decided the fate of her memorials a long time ago
![Fortress of Desire Fortress of Desire](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/cVrvduNnv1734075826650/FORTRESS-OF-DESIRE.jpg)
Fortress of Desire
A performance titled 'A Streetcart Named Desire', featuring Indian and international artists and performers, explored different desires through an unusual act on a full moon night at the Gwalior Fort
![Of Hope and Hopelessness Of Hope and Hopelessness](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/wY9wHYn9b1734075691899/OF-HOPE-AND-HOPELESSNESS.jpg)
Of Hope and Hopelessness
The body appears as light in Payal Kapadia's film
![Ruptured Lives Ruptured Lives](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/gtVzp1RzF1734075522061/RUPTURED-LIVES.jpg)
Ruptured Lives
A visit to Bangladesh in 2010 shaped the author's novel, a sensitively sketched tale of migrants' struggles
![The Big Book The Big Book](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/S3dH9s0_l1734075372462/THE-BIG-BOOK.jpg)
The Big Book
The Big Book of Odia Literature is a groundbreaking work that provides readers with a comprehensive introduction to the rich and varied literary traditions of Odisha
![How to Refuse the Generous Thief How to Refuse the Generous Thief](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/ry9kasZU51734075196272/HOW-TO-REFUSE-THE-GENEROUS-THIEF.jpg)
How to Refuse the Generous Thief
The poet uses all the available arsenal in English to write the most anti-colonial poetry
![The Freedom Compartment The Freedom Compartment](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/bVCI9UYQ61734074041916/THE-FREEDOM-COMPARTMENT.jpg)
The Freedom Compartment
#traindiaries is a photo journal shot in the ladies coaches of Mumbai locals. It explores how women engage and familiarise themselves with spaces by building relationships with complete strangers
![Love, Up in the Clouds Love, Up in the Clouds](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/241/1927469/yURYDYW1U1734073912695/LOVE-UP-IN-THE-CLOUDS.jpg)
Love, Up in the Clouds
Manikbabur Megh is an unusual love story about a man falling for a cloud. Amborish Roychoudhury discusses the process of Manikbabu's creation with actor Chandan Sen and director Abhinandan Banerjee