Bhaijaan is an honorific which according to a user from the United Kingdom, can mean older brother or dear brother, someone who is not related but is very close.

Zain (Samir Mahat) and Khafi (Rubayet Al Sharif) are working class schoolboys from Ilford. Their dream is to become world wrestling champions and leave their restricted lives behind. They are training for try outs for membership of a local wrestling club although the date clashes with their GCSEs.

Zain, confident and humorous, struggling academically, appears to be from a troubled home with a sick mother. He dreams of being rich and afford private treatment, so his mother does not have to wait 5 hours for an ambulance. The reason for his obsession with wrestling and leaving home becomes apparent later in the show. Khafi, more studious but with less agility in the bouts, initially has a more stable environment.

This is a powerful, physically energetic production, with many scenes of the boys exercising and grappling to improve their wrestling techniques. Although Zain says “It’s all scripted” it still looked painful to me.

There are some comic moments such as the beautifully choreographed, synchronised dance sequence at the school prom and a conversation in the mosque.
Whilst fantasizing about their escapes the audience learns more about their home lives and the secrets they keep, while maintaining an appearance of family honour and pride. Samir as Zain, in particular, sheds his mantle of bravado revealing a deep vulnerability and showing that he is scared and lonely little boy. All teenagers feel unheard but in Rubayet’s case this goes beyond typical teenage angst.

Following the plays pivotal incident where frustration culminates in violence the boys share their secrets, highlighting the bond between them. The interaction between them is both sweet and heart wrenching.
Although this play addresses toxic masculinity the overwhelming message from this performance is that in a difficult situation, the person one can most rely on is your Bhaijaan.

4 stars

Review by Nina Gardner.

Playing at the Hope Theatre 11th – 15th March 2025
For tickets see the link below

https://www.thehopetheatre.com/bhaijaan

Photographs courtesy of Lana Farhat

Performers
Rubayet Al Sharif Khafi
Samir Mahat Zain
Creative Team
Abir Mohammad Writer & Director
Misha Domadia Assistant Director



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