
Imagine a situation where your wife is pregnant, and the doctor informs you that the pregnancy is complicated. The doctor asks who you would want to save, the mother or the child, because the chances of both surviving are low. Doesn’t that sound stressful?
No one would ever want to be in such a worst-case scenario. If anyone had to go through such a situation, how would they cope, and what consequences would they bear?
If you want to know how someone feels in such a situation, you should watch Dhukdhuki 72 Megahertz, a play currently staged at Mandala Theatre.
Unexpected twist

Menuka Pradhan and Karma Shakya, the protagonists of Dhukdhuki 72 Megahertz, are excited and happy, as they are expecting a baby soon. Standing beneath a large tree with branches extending across the stage, they prepare for a maternity photoshoot.
As they are involved in the photoshoot, they are also sharing their opinion on matters such as motherhood, patriarchy, the concept of maternity photoshoot and among others where their perception differs.
And all of a sudden, Menuka Pradhan gets into labour pain and is rushed to a hospital. This is where the conflict in the play is established.
Produced by Dayahang Rai and written and directed by Kedar Shrestha, Dhukdhuki 72 Megahertz revolves around the story of a couple going through a complex pregnancy. The conflict in the play exposes the various perspectives about motherhood, family, life and death.
The another side

The entire play is staged in a single setting, featuring a beautifully placed large tree decorated with lights, a child’s shoe hanging in it, and some furniture arranged around the tree. The same setting has been used as a house, studio and hospital.
Besides depicting the tension between the two protagonists, the play also has another side. The huge tree, staged in the tree is symbolic and can even be considered as the character in the play.
There is a scene in the play where a photo of an unborn child is displayed in the tree. The projection of the unborn baby in the tree symbolises the tree as Mother Nature. A voiceover of the unborn child delivers the dialogue, “We can remain happy only when you are happy.” This dialogue can be interpreted as meaning that only by taking care of nature will we create a good environment to live in. By harming nature, we cannot live a good life.
The child’s shoe hanging in the tree can also be interpreted as humanity’s dependence on nature for life and growth.
Technically sound

Besides the content of the play, the technical aspects of the play as lights and music are equally strong.
The use of varied lighting, specifically in the final scenes, is another intriguing aspect of the play, adding vibrancy and depth to each scene. Similarly, the music is equally impactful, with the poignant background humming during the sad scenes bringing an added layer of emotion to the performance.
Regarding the acting, both actors have delivered commendable performances. Menuka Pradhan’s body language convincingly portrays her as truly pregnant, and her natural movements and dialogue delivery make the play feel more authentic.
Overall, Dhukdhuki 72 Megahertz is well worth watching. Spectators might feel that the play’s conflict could be introduced earlier by shortening the conversations in the initial scenes.
Dhukdhuki 72 Megahertz will be running until December 1, daily (except Mondays) at the Mandala Theatre, starting at 5:30 pm. An additional show will be held on Saturdays at 1:00 pm.