Lalit Gupta
JAMMU Nov 21: A poignant portrayal of neglect of elders by none other than own family members and the attendant isolation and loneliness marked the Kashmiri play Samanbal, staged by Bhoorang Foundation on day-9 of the Annual Theatre Festival, at the Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Written and directed by noted Kashmir theatrist Makhan Lal Saraf, the play ‘Samanbal’ which means ‘a meeting point’, opens with a group of elders, who have assembled at an open space, share with each other, respective stories of their neglect by sons and daughter-in-law, who even eye their savings to fulfill self-assigned materials goals and aspirations for their children to do the best in life.
In play’s anecdotal design the elders narrated their woes in the backstage, their stories unfolded in the foreground one after another by respective sons and daughters-in-law who have no time for their parents or who think of them as a burden.
Despite the fact that Makhan Lal Saraf’s play’s script was in the Kashmiri language, the subject having universal relevance successfully brought to fore the emotional turmoil, helplessness faced by elders in general. The play was especially relevant to tier three cities like Jammu-with an increasing number of youngsters moving to metros for jobs-are becoming like a big old-age home. The plays ended with a positive note with elders deciding to live life happily instead of letting it end with a sad note.
The cast which gave a well-knit and engrossing performance included Kusum Tikku, Makhan Lala Saraf, Meenal Peer, Kusum Tikko, Rani Bhan, Bharti Zaroo, Bansi Mattoo, Rohita Razdan, Shiban Tickoo, Ashok Bhat, Ajay Waguzari, Ranjeet Gurkha, Shivam Bhat, and Mohit Sumbli.
Tomorrow, Prashant Sareen’s play ‘Written His Dairy’ will be staged by The Performers.
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