Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, May 26: Shivani Cultural Society’s presentation of solo play ‘Sarbjeet Calling’ emerged as a poignant portrayal of the blatant violations of human rights wherein Sarbjeet Singh, the Indian national, was not only kept in Pakistani prisons for 23 years but also denied a chance for fair trial before being attacked by fellow inmates. He had died 6 days later at Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, on May 2, 2013.
Directed by Vikram Sharma, Neha Lahotra’s concept written by Aditya Bhanu and with Himanshu Darshan in role of Sarbjeet Singh, the play was staged, here today, at makeshift stage in the foyer of Abhinav Theatre, due to sudden paving in of the artificial ceiling of K L Saigal Hall.
The play, in Punjabi-Hindustani mix language, set in the solitary cell in Pakistan’s Lakhpat Jail, showed Sarbjeet in lonely and helpless state of affairs. Mentally broken and bewildered, he shares his agonies and tortures of forced captivity, in imaginary conversations with his mother and daughter Laddo whom he has drawn as images on cell walls. He tells them how he misses the food, festivals and village life. How jail authorities are delaying the court hearings. His ruminations are interrupted by the beatings by the jail staff warning him of dire consequences which ultimately take shape in form of fatal assault on him by jail inmates.
Himanshu Darshan as Sarbjeet gave an impressive solo performance in which he successfully portrayed the disturbed mental state of helpless Indian prisoner in an alien jail. Sarbjeet’s musings about his father, hope of meeting his dear ones, the entreaties to authorities as not to inflict pain upon him—all were very well brought out through modulations of speech, control of pitch and body movements.
The minimal set alluding to a prison cell created through play of few materials like ropes, a wooden log and posters etc did convey the symbolically feel of prison.
Speaking in his address, Prof Lalit Magotra, the chief guest, praised the efforts of the team of Shivani Cultural Society in raising awareness about topical issues in media as well as society.
Large number of artists and theatre enthusiasts were present in the audience.
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