Dramatic presentation brings alive Kunju Chanchalo’s love saga

A scene from Dogri play Kunju Chanchalo staged by Unison Cultural Club at Abhinav Theatre on Thursday.
A scene from Dogri play Kunju Chanchalo staged by Unison Cultural Club at Abhinav Theatre on Thursday.

Lalit Gupta

JAMMU, Aug 30: The dramatic presentation of Kunju Chanchalo at the Abhinav Theatre, here today, came out as delightful artistic rendering of Duggar’s love saga which eulogized in folk songs as symbol of platonic love has fired imagination of the young since generations.
Directed by Sandeep Verma, the play based on N. D. Jamwal’s script considered as a classic in modern Dogri literature is woven around the short-lived love life of Kunju, a soldier in Raja’s army and Chanchalo, a goli of Rani. Kunju dies fighting in a battle and the love torn Chanchalo kills herself by jumping in a river. The death of mortal bodies doses not deter the lovers who get united in the spiritual realm.
Today’s production, presented under the banner of Unison Cultural Club, conspicuous for use of minimal set and props, and thoughtful costumes design that created a feel of the period, also impressed for the aesthetic use of spot and side lighting, and subdued background score with clever use folk songs and refrain of karaks.
The duo of actorsMridul Anand as Kunju and first timer Amar Chouhan as Chanchalo successfully portrayed the platonic intensity of the young lovers. Young actors’ fluent delivery of Dogri verses also allowed the audience to savor the poetic genius of N. D. Jamwal, the veteran Dogri poet and writer.
Other members of the cast were Dewankshi Sabikhi as Saheli, Mohit Mehra as Sipahi 1, Vivek Sangotra as Sipahi 2, Janak Khajuria as King, Ajit Sharma as Jogi, Harsh Nandan as Tehliya 1 and Anil Sharma as Tehliya 2.
Vivek Sangotra was assistant director, set design by Ayaan Ali. Music design by Aman Sangral, costumes by Anil Sharma designed and lights by Junaid Kak and Tara Chand.

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