Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Feb 22: Notwithstanding the officialese valedictory function which held the audience hostage for one and half hours, the three-day Jammu chapter of the 22nd Bharat Rang Mahotasva, concluded with the performance of the play ‘Satyabhan-Savitri, at the Zorawar Singh Auditorium, here today.
The three-day Jammu Chapter of the International Drama Festival was organized by the National School of Drama, New Delhi, in collaboration with the University of Jammu.
Written by Pandit Natharam Sharma Gaur and directed by Dr. Umesh Chandra Sharma, today’s play performed by Sri Sri Narhari Seva Sansthan, Vrindavan, Mathura, reiterated the ‘Pativrta Dharma with reference to the impactful story of Savitri and Satyavan, the oldest known version of which is found in the Vana Parva of Mahabharata.
Coming as a contrast to yesterday’s play ‘Silence’ marked by creative experiments to enlarge the repertoire of contemporary theatre language, today’s play was based on North Indian folk dance drama traditions of Swang and Nautanki brought before the audience the earthy flavors of the outdoor drama tradition enjoyed by the rural masses who still see a continuing relevance in modern times.
Today’s play, with a live ensemble of musicians playing Nakkara, Harmonium, and drum, actors as narrators telling the story interspersed with colloquial references and singing in different folk music styles, provided a glimpse into the ecology of timeless folk theatre forms and the way they reach the hearts of the rural masses and reiterate the Bhartiya values system in rural masses.
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