It’s 1958. The Rana regime is long gone, and Nepal is now witnessing major political changes. But Mau Jung Babu Saheb, the former Rana minister, is still reminiscing about the old times, and the only treasure in his life is a shabby, old overcoat he owns, the one he received from someone close to the Rana family. ‘Mau Jung Babu Saheb Ko Coat’ is a Nepali classic written by Bhawani Bhikchu that tells the story of a man who once had reached the height of power, but is now gripping onto what’s left of it, which isn’t much. And the theatrical adaptation by Shailee Theatre in Ratopul, Kathmandu has done a good job in bringing this story to life. Babu Saheb is at the heart of this story. He’s a hateful and oppressive man, who reveled in the power he used to have over people as a Rana minister. It goes without saying, he was feared by all. But with the fall of the Rana regime, he has now become a laughing stock. Outside his household, people don’t think much of him.

The reason why Babu Saheb is clinging on to the coat is because it reminds him of the old times, where he could easily demand respect from people. It was that coat which made him stand out among all. But now, with its colors fading away, and stitches coming out, the overcoat meets the same fate as the Rana regime did—it no longer holds any value—and that is the main theme of the story.

Shailee Theater has put in a lot of effort to bring out this characteristic of Babu Saheb, that too,  just by his looks. With his face painted white and dark lines circling his eyes, he looks scary, but at the same time looks like someone who is not taken seriously. The actor (Saroj Aryal) gets the credit for bringing the character to life, besides the makeup. From the way he speaks, to his body language, everything hints towards how obnoxious the character was. While the others don’t have the same elaborate makeup as he does, they have carried their characters well. There are a few moments where the actors go a little overboard, but that is well compensated for by a lot of moments that will leave you in splits. Although Babu Saheb was the main character, some credit must go to the appearance of Bada Hakim (portrayed by Pranesh Gautam). More than his dialogues, his expressions are what the audience will love the most. It is light-weight and funny, and even though his appearance is short, it’s unforgettable. Besides the acting, lights and stage set-up also make the play much more interesting. The lighting changes were done in perfect timing to set the mood for the next scene. And the stage set-ups and changes were smooth and clean. One of the best transitions was when Babu Saheb leaves for Lucknow, in order to get his coat dry-cleaned. With the constant chatter of people trying to sell pan, asking to carry bags, and everything in chaos, we are easily transported to a railway station in India. The play, overall, is a fun watch, although the ending isn’t quite satisfying. It’s pretty obvious that they are trying to show the overcoat seeing the same fate as the fall of Ranas, but it could have been better delivered. The entire play shouldn’t be judged just by the flat ending. It’s a light-weight drama that lasts one and a half hours, and it’s definitely worth a watch. ‘Mau Jung babu Saheb Ko Coat’ will be staged at Shailee Theatre in Ratopul, at 5:00 pm on weekdays (except Thursday) and at 1:00 pm on weekends. It will run till  Feb 8.