WHERE THERE’S A WILL-MAHESH DATTANI

Mahesh Dattani is a philosopher among the playwrights of India. He

never imitates anybody. He always thinks for himself and thinks about the
well being of the humanity around him. This humanity is Indian, and its
problems are not the problems known to the western world. His approach to
the problems are original. Dattani used drama as the means oftenengaging
in existential spirit with the actual problems of life. Dattani is a realistic
dramatist. In his dramas male characters are not as important as women
characters. He is a Gujarathi. One finds Gujarathi characters in his plays
especially all characters in Where There is a Will.

Where there is a will was first performed by Dattani's theatre group,

Playpen at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore on Sept. 23, 1988 as part of
Deccan Herald Theatre Festival. The play is set in Mumbai. All the
characters are Gujarathi.

Hasmukh Mehta is one of the richest persons in Mumbai. He is a

garment manufacturer and has established Mehta Group of companies. He
introduces the members of his family. His active role is limited in the play,
for soon he dies. But he is present spiritually throughout the play. His wife is
Sonal. Sonal means Gold, She was as good as gold when they were married.
But soon he found the she is good for nothing. Ajit is their only son. He is
married to Preeti. The play begins with Hasmukh's grumbling against his
son. He thinks that his son is good for nothing. He doesn't want to make him
the Chief Managing Director (CMD) of his company. He regrets:

"That was an even bigger mistake. What makes it worse is

knowing that I actually prayed to get him. Oh God! I regret
it all!

Hasmukh always quarrels with his wife and son. He fears that all his
wealth will be squandered by them after he dies. He is very much anxious
about his business which was built patiently and diligently through long
years.

Hasmukh behaves like a dictator. He is very stubborn. He expects all the

members of his family to obey him blindly. He wants his son to polish his
shoes every morning and to execute his orders. As his wife and son are
found recalcitrant to his wishes, he thinks that they are his misfortune.

"Then when I was twenty two, the greatest tragedy in my life

took place I got married to my wife, Sonal.... The following
year Ajit was born. Tragedy after tragedy"

At times, Hasmukh behaves like a child demanding things and gets

irritated at trifles.

Ajit has his own independent albeit eccentric views to live by. He feels
that he is not a 'blog of wood' to require any training. Hasmukh is not able
to train him properly with all care and affection. Hasmukh is suffering from
hypertension, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. He smokes a lot of
cigarettes. Moreover, his heart is enlarging. But he cares little about his
diseases.

Sonal depends on her servants too much. She cannot handle the kitchen
on her own. Their cook is on leave. She finds it difficult to manage the
situation. She gets tired soon and faints while cooking. She has the habit of
cooking more things both in quantity and number. This makes her husband
angry. He shouts at her often. Even then she loves him very much and
advices him to stop smoking.

"How many times have I told you not to smoke? (snatches the
cigarette) Who do you think the doctors will blame if you get
another heart attack? me or who else?"

Sonal seems to be under the influence of her sister, Minal. She works
according to Minal 's advice only. But Hasmukh does not like Minal 's
interference in his household. He disapproves Sonal's excessive attachment
to her.

Sonal's indulgence spoils her son. He should have been properly

disciplined. She knows that Ajit behaviour with his father is far from
satisfactory. She tells Preeti; '

That boy is so impredictable. No wonder he drives his father

half-mad"

Sonal doesn't understand her husband. She blames him for being sullen
and cheerless. Sonal complains Preeti:

"Hasmukh, my husband. Do you know what Hasmukh means?

A smiling face whoever named him that cracked a very bad joke
Have you ever seen him smile? I can't imagine anyone has."

Hasmukh is unable to express his love on anyone. At home he keeps

quarrelling with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. In e office, his behaviour
with his son is insulting. He is strict with the members of the staff of his
company. His father is his hero and he can think of no other role-model.

Since Hasmukh and Sonal fights with each other often, their (25 years)
married life is not successful and happy. Hasmukh needed an emotional
support and sex. So he turns towards Kiran, the marketing executive of his
company for that. Kiran's and Hasmukh's relationship existed before Kiran's
marriage. Hasmukh only arranged their marriage. Her husband is a
drunkard. He knows about her relations with Hasmukh. But he doesn’t mind
it because every evening he needs a full bottle of Whisky, Johnnie Walker.
He was an Excise Inspector in the government. He was suspended because
of corruption. He wanted a bottle of Whisky every day. Therefore he allowed
his wife to become Hasmukh's mistress. But Kiran has to do it under moral
compulsion.
 Hasmukh takes medicines everyday to lower his blood pressure. But it
doesn't work recently. He dies of cardiac arrest. In the remaining part, he is
in the play on his spirit. Ajit is shocked to hear the news of his father's
death. Preeti doesn't react like others. It seems that she has anticipated this.

Hasmukh, has made 'a special will for his family. After 7 days of his
death, the family members come to know of about his will. Hasmukh has
made a trust --"The Hasmukh Mehta Charitable Trust'out of hid money. Ms.
Kiran Jhaveri, the marketing executive turned company Director and
Hasmukh 's mistress has been nominated as the trustee. All his property,
finances and shares now belong to the trust. The trust will be dissolved
when Ajit turns to be forty five (Ajit shall start no new project. He is
required to attend office every day at 9 a.m. and he can leave at 6 pm), The
family members are shocked at the contents of the will. Sonal is shocked
that her husband was in love with another woman. Preeti regrets her
marrying a useless man.

Kiran comes to their house to stay with them. She appears to be a

confident and affectionate lady. All are apparently uncomfortable at her
presence. Things slowly changed. Ajit becomes a responsible man. Sonal
becomes friendly and affectionate with Kiran. Preeti doesn't want Kiran at
home. She assumes that Kiran must have stimulated Hasmukh to make the
will injurious to his family. Kiran finds that Preeti is the cause of the death of
Hasmukh. But she doesn't want to tell it to others and create a problem. So
Preeti also becomes submissive and obeys Kiran's orders.

Thus the whole family turns good by the efforts taken by Kiran. Kiran is
the centre of the whole family and all the characters affectionately clings to
her.

CHARACTER SKETCHES - Hasmukh Mehta, Sonal, Ajit, Preethi and Kiran

Jhavari:

Introduction: Mahesh Dattani is a philosopher among the playwrights of

India. He never imitates anybody. Dattani is a realistic dramatist. In his
dramas, male characters are not so important as female characters. He is a
Gujarathi. One finds Gujarathi characters in his plays especially all the
characters in Where There is a will.
Where There is a Will was first performed by Dattani's theatre group,
play- pen at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore on September 23, 1988, as
part of Deccan Herald Theatre festival.

Hasmukh Mehta: Hasmukh Mehta is one of the richest persons in Mumbai.

He is a garment manufacturer and has established Mehta Group of
Companies. His wife is Sonal. Ajit is their only son. He is married to Preeti.
Hasmukh always quarrels with his wife and son. He is very stubborn. He
expects all the members of his family to obey him blindly. He wants his son
to polish his shoes every morning and to execute his orders.
He is not satisfied with his marriage with Sonal. He says:
Then when I was twenty two, the greatest tragedy in my life took
place, I got married to my wife, Sonal The following year
Ajit was born. Tragedy after Tragedy.
 Hasmukh suffers from hypertension, high blood pressure and high
cholesterol. He smokes a lot of cigarettes. He is strict with the members of
his company. His father is his only role model and he can think of no other
role models.
Hasmukh is unable to express his love on anyone. At home he keeps on
quarrelling with his wife, son and daughter-in-law. His behaviour with his
son, in the office is also insulting. Since he quarrels with his family members
often his 25 years married life is not successful and happy, He needs an
emotional support. So, he turns towards Kiran, the marketing executive of
his company. He keeps Kiran as his mistress.
Hasmukh, takes medicines everyday for his BP and other diseases. But
those medicines do not work well recently as Preeti has changed her
Vitamin tablets purposely. So soon he dies of cardiac arrest. In the
remaining part of the play, he is present in the form of spirit. His ghost has
been hanging upside down on a tamarind tree.
Hasmukh made a special will for his family members, After seven days of
his death the family members come to know about the will. He has made a
trust -Hasmukh Mehta Charitable Trust'- out of his money. Ms. Kiran
Jhaveri, has is property been nominated as the trustee. All his property,
finance and shares belong to the trust. The trust will be dissolved when Ajit
turns to be forty five. All are shocked to hear about the Will.
The whole play revolves around the character of Hasmukh Mehta.
Though his behaviour is not liked in the beginning of the play his death
draws the pity of the readers.

Sonal: Sonal is Hasmukh Mehta's wife. Sonal means gold. She was as good
as gold when they were married. But soon she turned to be a good for
nothing wife to her husband, Hasmukh always quarrels with his wife.
Sonal depends on her servant too much. She cannot handle the kitchen
on her own. If the cook takes leave she finds it difficult to manage the
situation. She gets upset and some days she even fainted in the kitchen. She
has the habit of cooking more things both in quantity and number. This
makes her husband angry. He shouts at her. Even then, she loves him very
much and advices him to stop smoking.
Sonal seems to be under the influence of her sister, Minal. She works
according to Mind's advice only. Sonal's indulgence spoils her son. She
knows that Ajit's behaviour with his father is far from being satisfactory.
Sonal doesn't understand her husband well. She blames him for being
sullen and cheerless. Once she comp lams Preeti:
Hasmukh, my husband. Do you know what Hasmukh means?
A smiling face, whoever named him that cracked a very bad joke.
Have you ever seen him smile? I can't imagine anyone has.
Sonal is shocked at her husband's sudden death. Though he hates and
quarrels with his wife often, she loves him wholeheartedly. Sonal is very
upset and shocked at the news of her husband's mistress, Kiran.
Kiran comes and stays with them in their house. Sonal adjusts with her
well and wins her affection. She became very friendly with her.
Thus Sonal wins the sympathy and affection of all those who read the
play. In end of the play she lives as an independent and successful
character.
Ajit: Ajit is the only son of Hasmukh Mehta and Sonal. Hasmukh Mehta is
one of the richest persons in Mumbai. His son is the heir to all his
properties, Sonal treats her son so lovingly. She cooks the items liked by
him. It is Sonal's indulgence that spoils Ajit.
Ajit wants to be independent, He doesn't want to give heed to his
father's orders. He believes that he has the efficiency to manage his father's
business. But his father insults him often.
Ajit's wife, Preeti married him only for his money. When she finds that
none of the properties are in his name she says that he is an useless man.
When all the properties are written in the name of the trust he works asan
employee in his own company. He becomes a very sincere worker. He also
adjusts to Kiran and her orders. Later he becomes a very responsible man.

Preeti: Preeti is the spouse of Ajit. She is money minded. She always
wants the money of Hasmukh. Hasmukh is not satisfied with her behaviour.
She is not a responsible daughter-in-law. She is pregnant. She takes Vitamin
tablets. She without the knowledge of anybody in the house, exchanged her
Vitamin tablets with Hasmukh's BP tablets. The reason is that she wanted to
get all of his properties in a short time. As planned by her, Hasmukh died in
a very short time. She is not upset at the death of her father-in-law.
Preeti's vile and cunning nature is found by Kiran. While all others obey
Kiran's orders, Preeti refuses to do so. Kiran openly told her the things she
did against Hasmukh and that she would inform that to Ajit Preeti falls down
and begs for pardon.
Thus, Preeti becomes submissive and obliging to Kiran.

Kiran Jhaveri: Kiran Jhaveri is an young lady who works in Hasmukh's

company as the marketing executive. She is an effective and sincere worker.
She works hard and gets the trust of Hasmukh. She supports him in all his
works. Hasmukh only arranged the marriage of Kiran.
Kiran's husband was a drunkard. He worked as an excise inspector in the
government. He lost his job because of his drunken behaviour. He wanted a
bottle of Whisky daily. So he allowed his wife to become Hasmukh's
mistress. But Kiran has to do it under moral compulsion.
Hasmukh made his trust—Hasmukh Mehta Charaitable Trust and has
nominated Kiran Jhaveri as the trustee of his trust. Kiran, according to the
Will has come to stay in the house of Hasmukh after his death. She appears
to be a confident and affectionate lady.

It is because of the efforts taken by Kiran, all the members of the family,
Sonal, Ajit and Preeti becomes responsible. She wins the love and respect of
all because of her wise and timely actions and decisions.