Lalit Gupta
Jammu, Dec 19: ‘Mahanagar Ka Tahlua’, a Rajneesh Gupta’s dramatic adaptation of Bimal Mitra’s acclaimed novel Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam was staged as the second play of ongoing annual Drama festival 2017-18, organised by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art Culture and Languages at the Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Presented under the banner of Viraj Kala Kendra, and directed jointly by Rajneesh Gupta and Rajesh Raina, the play opens with an innocent villager Bhoot Nath arriving in a haveli of Calcutta. He becomes privy to the atrocities of haveli’s Zamindars, and the plight of love-starved Choti Bahu who in her attempts to win backs her husband’s affection becomes alcoholic. While Zamindar’s face penury, Choti Bahu enlists Bhootnath’s help to save her now-paralyzed husband. But after attacked by Zamindar’s men, she disappears. Bhootnath who comes back after a long times, is deputed by his company to dismantle the same Haveli. Labourers while digging discover a Skelton with ornaments; Bhoot Nath recognises it to be that of Choti Bahu.
Today’s production about social decay and social change in colonial times, captivated the audience mainly due to the skilled presentation by actors. Balwinder Singh as Bhoot Nath, Meera Tapasvi as Chhoti Bahu, Rajesh Raina as Chhote Babu, Pawan Verma as Vanshi, Sars Bharti as Jaba-all the main actors left their indelible mark. Other members of the cast were Anil Sharma, Munish, Arun, Rajeev, Sudesh Thakur, Joginder Singh and Rajan.
The set design by Ketan Bandral through little congested for actor’s free movement did succeed in creating different spaces. Music was by Rakesh Anand, lights by Suresh Malhotra, costumes by Madhu Gupta and props by Raj Bharti.
Tomorrow a Punjabi play Terrorist di Premika will be presented by Manoranjan Kala Kendra.
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