Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Aug 26: Sudarshan Majithia’s famous Hindi play, ‘Aatmhatya se Pehle’ was featured here at Natrang Studio Theatre in Natrang Sunday Theatre series today.
The play has been directed by Anil Tickoo. Before the beginning of today’s performance, Natrang artists held a condolence meeting on the sad demise of eminent Sanskrit scholar Pandit Dwarka Nath Shastri. Late Pandit Dwarka Nath Shastri happens to be the father of one of the senior most artist of Natrang, Dr. Sudhanshu Sharma.
In the play, one ‘Popat Lal’ is informed by ‘Madhav’ that their friend ‘Nagji Bhai’ is going to end his life by committing suicide as he is fed up with his life and can’t handle the demands of his wife, two sons and four daughters. On hearing this, rather than being sympathetic towards his friend, Popat plans to get benefit of his death, he wants to sensitize the suicide of Nagji Bhai in a manner that it becomes an aspiration for many others who are confused whether to go for suicide or not. Popat Lal tells his friends Madhav and Ghanshyam that they will get Nagji Bhai insured with a huge amount and they themselves will pay the premium and also keep their own name as beneficiaries so that the death of their friend yields a good money to them. They also conspire to project the suicide as an accident so that there comes no problem in getting the insurance claim. In shear apathy and selfishness, Popat plans to open a Trust on the name of Nagji Bhai which would render all possible help to those who want to commit suicide he even goes to this extent that if somehow by fear Nagji Bhai declines to go for suicide, they will assist him in this act. But all their dreams were shattered on knowing that their friend has not ended his life as it is very usual for Nagji Bhai to announce that he is going to commit suicide whenever he feels frustrated.
Uplaksh Singh as ‘Popat Lal’, Ashwani Bali as ‘Madhav’, Rohatashiv Sharma as ‘Bihari Bhai’, Antriksh as ‘Ghansham’, Shekhar as ‘Nagji Bhai’ and Sajra Qadir as his ‘Wife’ all young artists of Natrang were very impressive in their respective roles. Lights were operated by Rohit Verma and music was scored by Rahul Singh. Mohd. Yaseen looked after the hall management. Sumeet Sharma coordinated the show and also did the presentations.
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