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When Amar met Jay
Comic capers as cultures clash
26/ 6/2003
When Amar met Jay - a Hangama Production shown at the Contact Theatre, Manchester
If you're a British Asian then this warm-hearted play will be
like watching parts of your life run past your very eyes.
It deals with national identity, the dilemma of mixing Asian and
white friends, the polarities of Eastern and Western culture and of
course marriage, 'free' or arranged.
Despite this loaded social agenda the play manages a light and
comic touch.
Amar is the central character - Indian born but who has spent the
last 25 years in England with his wife and has two daughters, Sudhi
and Tanya.His traditional views of life, family and marriage are
the focus of the drama.
He is typical of many South Asian fathers. He wants to nurture his
Easter 'roots' and expects everyone else in the family circle to do
the same.
Sudhi - an independently minded solicitor is married off to her
fresh-off-the boat cousin from india.
Blinkered Amar genuinely thinks he is doing the best for Sudhi and
feels there is a "charm" to arranged marriages. But charm is no
substitute affection and at least an outlook similar enough to
establish enough common ground to hold a relationship
together.
The arguments between Sudi and her slightly dim and introverted
swain create disturbingly familiar echoes for many a Asian girl who
have had a partner from 'back home' picked for them.
Any kind of life outside the home becomes an issue of conflict for
a husband who feels a wives should be 'indoors' and not be the main
breadwinner. Sudhi and he husband can not relate to each other
mentally therefore cannot socialise thus causing strains on their
relationship - some thing I have personally seen with many couples
in similar situations.
The second daughter is different but still a problem for Amer.
Tanya is a bit of a rebel with a modern thinking boyfriend Jay who
enjoys clubbing and playing football - he's a typical lad's
lad.
Jay doesn't have a problem about fitting in to British society as
he feels he is able to pick and mix the best of his Indian and
British cultural heritage.
Young Asians will be able to relate to Jay as I certainly did. He
feels there's nothing wrong in celebrating your own Asian culture
with that of the Britain and that the real problem is the older
generation.
Some of the best and most amusing scenes come when Jay attempts to
win over Amar and fails disastrously leading to the young man play
acting the typical traditional trubaned young man with a Peter
Sellars Indian accent.
"When Amar met Jay" sums up many of the dilemmas and challenges
facing UK Asians.
SB
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