Mahesh Dattani – Dance Like a Man
Mahesh Dattani’s play Dance Like a Man is a powerful exploration of gender roles, ambition, art, family expectations and the conflicts between personal passion and social norms. Set in Bangalore, it revolves around two Bharatanatyam dancers—Jairaj and Ratna—whose artistic dreams collide with patriarchy, ego, and generational trauma. The play is structured in two parts, blending past and present.
Part One – Present Day & Flashbacks Begin
The play opens with Jairaj and Ratna, now elderly, preparing for the arrival of their daughter Lata and her fiancé Vishwas. The present-day interactions reveal:
- Bitterness and emotional distance in Jairaj–Ratna’s marriage
- Their lifelong obsession with Bharatanatyam
- Their expectations for Lata to become a successful dancer
As they talk to Vishwas, the play moves into flashbacks revealing their early lives:
Jairaj vs. Amritlal (Patriarchy & Control)
Jairaj’s father, Amritlal, is a former freedom fighter who holds conservative ideas. He believes:
- Dancing is unsuitable for men
- A male dancer is unmanly
- A woman must prioritise home and motherhood
This brings severe conflicts:
- Jairaj wants to pursue classical dance
- Amritlal humiliates him for wanting to “dance like a woman”
- Ratna manipulates both father and husband to further her own career
The couple’s artistic life becomes entangled with:
- financial dependence on Amritlal
- control over their living arrangements
- patriarchal judgement of Jairaj’s art
By the end of Part One, the painful cracks in their past marriage and careers are visible. The stage moves toward the tragedy involving their first child.
Part Two – Past Consequences, Present Realisations
The Death of the First Child
The central emotional blow of the play is the death of Jairaj and Ratna’s infant son years ago. The child died because:
- Ratna was obsessed with achieving stardom
- She neglected the infant during her rehearsals
This tragedy haunts their marriage and becomes the symbol of:
- cost of ambition
- guilt and silence
- failure of parental responsibility
Jairaj’s Life of Suppressed Art
Jairaj realises he never achieved success because:
- He lacked freedom in a patriarchal home
- Ratna controlled and overshadowed his artistic development
- He internalised society’s ridicule of male dancers
His life becomes a symbol of wasted talent and emotional suffocation.
Ratna’s Ambition & Ego
Ratna becomes a successful dancer, but:
- Her success is built on manipulation
- She treats Jairaj as secondary
- She shapes Lata’s career according to her own unfulfilled desires
Lata’s Generation – Hope or Repetition?
Lata prepares for her dance performance. The question arises: Will she repeat her parents’ mistakes?
While she respects dance, she desires a balanced life with Vishwas. The play ends on an ambiguous yet hopeful note—Lata may create her own path.
Major Characters
- Jairaj – Talented but emotionally suppressed male dancer; victim of patriarchy.
- Ratna – Ambitious dancer; career-driven, manipulative, yet strong.
- Amritlal – Patriarchal father; symbol of male authority and tradition.
- Lata – Daughter; modern generation trying to balance art and life.
- Vishwas – Lata’s fiancé; outsider who witnesses family conflicts.
Major Themes
- Gender Roles – “Dance like a man” questions masculinity and femininity.
- Patriarchy – Amritlal’s beliefs affect the entire family.
- Art vs. Family – Ambition clashes with personal relationships.
- Generational Trauma – Parents’ unresolved conflicts pass to Lata.
- Ego & Manipulation – Ratna’s ambition reshapes everyone’s fate.
- Identity & Freedom – Jairaj struggles to find identity as a male dancer.
Symbols
- Dancing – Expression of identity + conflict.
- Child’s Death – Cost of ambition; emotional emptiness.
- Household Space – Represents Amritlal’s control.
- Lata’s Performance – Hope of breaking the cycle.
Critical Analysis
- Dattani exposes how art is destroyed by ego, social norms and gender politics.
- The blend of present and flashback structure deepens psychological tension.
- Jairaj is a rare male character punished for loving classical dance.
- Ratna represents women both empowered and trapped by ambition.
- The ending suggests possibility for a healthier future generation.
Quick Revision Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Playwright | Mahesh Dattani |
| Structure | Two Parts |
| Setting | Bangalore, middle-class household |
| Central Conflict | Gender roles, ambition, patriarchy |
| Protagonists | Jairaj and Ratna |
| Major Theme | “What does it mean to dance like a man?” |
| Message | The struggle for identity and artistic freedom against rigid social expectations. |
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