When the god of death, Yamraj, finds that that he is being saddled with too much work, he decides to look for the reason on earth.
He finds the answer -- and it leaves him coughing in a cloud of smoke.
The Hindu deity of death and Chitragupta, the chronicler of fate, are two key characters in a dark comedy with a simple message: "Smoking is fatal, not glamorous".
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The quirky street play -- 'Tauba Karo Tobacco Se' (Keep away from tobacco), replete with pun-filled lines -- was performed last evening in Delhi, and will have two shows in Noida and Gurgaon today to mark World No Tobacco Day.
"There is not enough space up there to accommodate so many people, but the count of people dying is only increasing. I wonder when people will give up smoking," Yamraj rues after wandering around earth and seeing people puffing away.
The play in Hindi, weaved around the daily lives of ordinary people subjected to passive smoking in public places, highlights the fact that second hand smoke also endangers the lives of people -- youth and adults alike.
The script looks at excuses that people offer for smoking -- that they are merely taking a drag, beating stress or tiding over family issues.
One segment of the innovative and sarcasm-dripping play features a conversation among a lighter, a match stick and a cigarette, where the "tobacco-filled cylinder" brags about its "growing influence" among people.
"They have put up an ugly sign (statutory warning) on the packets I come in, but you see, I am still in demand," the cigarette gloats.
The cancer stick points out that it has every reason to be arrogant. "Even the increase in costs has not affected my sales," says the cigarette, branded 'Mar-lo-bro', tongue firmly in cheek.
Another memorable character in the nearly 20-minute play is that of an oxygen-seller, who takes a dig at an insurance firm agent, with "I sell life and you sell death".
The play, directed by Vyas Anand and performed by theatre group 'Dramapanti' at Dilli Haat -- a popular complex with eateries, shops and open areas -- seeks to drive home the message "right into people's heart and lungs", a team member says.
"We are trying to send across a strong message against smoking and those investing in this business. This play is to declare a 'halla bol' (crusade) against smoking and tobacco consumption," says team member Smita Nanda.
World No Tobacco Day is observed across the globe on May 31 every year. It is aimed at encouraging people to not consume tobacco for 24 hours and raising awareness about the hazardous effects of tobacco consumption on a person's health and well-being.
According to the World Health Organization, there are about 27.5 crore tobacco users in India -- 16.37 crore users of smokeless tobacco (such as snuff), 6.9 crore smokers and 4.23 crore users who smoke and consume smokeless tobacco.
Nanda, who wrote a song called 'Halla Bol' which is like a refrain in the play, says the group plans to stage more such works on social, national and international issues that affect the people.
While the humour-laden conversation between a "worried Yamraj, not having his last laugh," and Chitragupta, wearing a red tie, leaves the viewers in splits, the climax scene -- "a dance of death" -- prompted moments of silent contemplation.
Tobacco use is responsible for nearly 6 million deaths each year worldwide, 600,000 of which are the result of non- smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey released last year, about 35 per cent of adults in India consume tobacco in some form or the other.
Almost 8-9 lakh people die every year of diseases attributable to tobacco use, according to the report of Tobacco Control in India (2004).
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
