Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, July 18: Two short plays, Munshi Prem Chand’s ‘Baalak’ and Aditya Bhanu’s ‘Ghonsla’, were staged on the fourth day of ongoing Jammu Natya Utsav, at K L Saigal hall, here today.
The plot of first play presented by Ek Sath Rangmandal, revolves around a writer, who is disturbed to hear his servant ‘Gangu’ wants to quit job. When writer asks Gangu about the reason, Gangu says that he is doing it to marry Gomati, a widow. Writer is unhappy with Gangu’s decision as he had heard that Gomati had already married thrice but did not settle with anyone. Gangu marries Gomati and starts living a happy life. But after less than six months, Gomati leaves him to go to unknown place. Unmindful of village gossip, Gangu holds high regards for her. One day, he informs the writer that Gomati has come back after giving birth to a baby. Knowing that it was not his baby, he still accepts the child with a very clear and open heart. The play ends with the writer feeling petty in front of Gangu’s noble character. The role of writer was performed by Anoop Rathore who also directed the play while Abhay Rajput acted as Gangu.
Performed by Actor’s Academy, the second short play ‘Ghonsla’, directed by Dilshad Sazi and written by Aditya Bhanu, came out to be a moving commentary on present day social reality wherein grown up children in search of better financial opportunities are moving out of country to leave behind old parents. The plot of the play revolves around one such old and lonely pensioner. Who is reminiscing how his two foreign settled sons, despite umpteen promises, have failed to visit him since twelve years. When one day he receives letter from his sons to send money as they are facing financial hardship, the old man, as a dutiful father, sells his house, his ‘Ghonsla’, and prepares to shift to old age home.
Young actor, Mohit Khajuria, in role of ‘old man’ was able to bring out the pathos and helplessness of the senior citizen, through variation of speech and varied emotions.
Tomorrow on the last day of Jammu Natya Utsav, organized by Aditya Bhanu and Nav Durga Kala Mandir in collaboration with J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages, two plays will be performed: ‘Raktdaan Mahadaan’ by Nirvana Academy and ‘Premchand Se Dosti’ by Natraj Natya Kunj.
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