Ek Mamooli Aadmi is certainly not a ‘mamooli’ play. Though falling in the socially relevant theatre category, the play directed by Arvind Gaur and produced by the Asmita group entertains to the fullest.

Full of humour extracted from life’s reality, the story develops around the protagonist Umesh’s curiosity to find out why Brahmins had refused to participate in his father’s ‘terhvi’ (13th day after death) ritual.

Moving in flashbacks, it describes the travails of a retiring clerk who comes to know about his impending death. A bubbly female colleague reminding the reclusive and politically correct Ishwar Chand Awasthi that his life is like that of an Egyptian mummy brings about a turnaround in the life of the dying man, making him realise that it was not life that he was leading but death — unnoticed and unannounced.

Awasthi decides to savour another life and heads to paint a new picture of himself — for his own viewing. Turning his impending death into a motivation, he seeks pleasure—for himself and others.

Reflecting on various aspects of the society, the play takes a dig at the superficial relationships of the present day. Aptly exposing political and social attitudes and people’s priorities, it poses a fresh set of questions on life.

At the same time, it shows how meaningful productions like this can not only draw audience but entertain them too, as appeared from the response of spectators at Sangeet Natak Academy where it was staged on Tuesday as part of Rang Sangam suggested so.