Natrang stages ‘Balak’

A scene from the play ‘Balak’ which was presented by Natrang on Sunday.
A scene from the play ‘Balak’ which was presented by Natrang on Sunday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 7: ‘Balak’ –   a play in Hindustani based on Munshi Premchand’s classic story, was staged here today at Natrang Studio Theatre.
Directed by Neeraj Kant,  the play opens at the home of a writer, where he is slightly disturbed to hear the news that his honest servant Gangu wants to quit his job. As the writer asks the reason why he wants to resign,  Gangu says that  he wanted to marry a widow Gomti who was married thrice but could not get settled with any of her husband. She is believed to be a bad woman who is without any dignity but Gangu finds her innocent and a victim of lack of understanding. Thinking that his marriage with Gomti may cause stigma on Writer’s reputation also, Gangu wants to alienate himself from the writer, just to save his goodwill. He marries Gomti and starts living a happy married life but for few months only as one day Gomti leaves him and went to unknown place. Every one discusses the hard luck of Gangu who was very badly betrayed by a lady for whom he had discarded everything. But Gangu still holds very high regards for her and considers her absconding as some of her genuine problem or God’s will.
One day, Gangu comes to the writer’s home very happy as Gomti has come back. Actually she had gone to an unknown place to give birth to a baby and  on knowing this news, Gangu  went to her and accepted both of them. It was apparent that it is not his baby as his marriage was just six months old, but still he accepted the child with a very clear and open heart, considering the baby as God’s gift. He gives so many reasons of high thinking for his being so nice to the mother and child that the writer is moved and finds his thinking very petty in front of that of Gangu.
Natrang actors,  who acted in the play, included Mahikshit Singh, Rajan Thakyal, Sudesh Parihar, Shivam Singh, Rishav Sharma and Piyush Anand.