By JK Global News
Jammu: Five days National theatre festival ‘Theatre Carnival’, inaugurated here today at Abhinav Theatre Jammu with an impressive performance of the dogri play ‘Agni Barkha’ directed by Abhishek Bharti who is a recipient of prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Yuva Bismillah Khan Puraskar, a National Award for Theatre Direction.
Sougat Biswas IAS, Transport Comissioner Jammu and Kashmir was the Chief Guest whereas Aziz Hajini, Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art ,Culture and languages was the guest of Honour on the occasion.
Organised by Natraj Natya Kunj, Cultural Society Jammu the festival is supported by Ministry of Culture Govt. of India, North Zone Cultural Centre, Haryana Kala Parishad, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture & languages. Speaking on the occasion, Sougat Biswas lauded the efforts of the group by organizing national theatre festival in Jammu.
The play is a theatrical adaptation of India’s foremost Playwright Girish Karnad’s play “The Fire and The Rain” by Kumar A ‘Bharti’. This is the first time when any of Girish Karnad’s Play is adapted into Dogri Language. Basically drawn from Aranya Parava of the Mahabharata, this moral parable is redefined and recreated by a creative person with profound insight into an epic tale which reflects modern sensibility. It is depicted that the land was in the grip of a ravaging drought for 10 years. In order to appease the Lord of Gods Indra, custodian of rain, a grand fire sacrifice is being conducted at the palace under the guidance of the Chief Priest, Paravasu.
As this sacrifice draws to its close, story begins. Paravasu is the elder son of the great sage Raibhya. For 7 years he has watched over the holy fire, forsaking his wife, family and every earthly pleasure. Paravasu’s young brother Arvasu is in love with a tribal girl, Nittilai. Arvasu prepares to marry outside his Brahmin caste – but for this, according to the tribal custom, he has to present himself before Nittilai’s village elders. Paravasu’s cousin and bitter rival Yavakri has just returned triumphant after 10 years of practicing austerities in the jungle, with the gift of universal knowledge from the gods. To seek revenge from Raibhya’s family for cheating his father, Yavakri seduces Paravasu’s lonely wife Vishakha. This sets off an irrevocable chain of events that lead to Aravasu losing his love, Paravasu desecrating the great sacrifice, the creation of a demon BrahamRakshas and the deaths of Yavakri and Raibhya. Finally, the purity of Arvasu and Nittilai’s love brings salvation to the land.
The Play designed along with elements of ingenious cultural tradition, not only provided a classical setting to the production but also enliven the well crafted theatrical situations and moments. Cleaver use of element of mime, rhythmic body movements, groupings with a unique mix of folk and classical background music which stood out for chanting of Sanskrit shlokas, alaaps as well as crescendos, drum beats-all emerged as impressive tools of the eclectic theatre language adapted for the play. On stage Team Includes: Mukesh Bakshi, Surbhi Balgotra, Akshay Razdan, Aman Sharma, Niharika Shakshi, Abhishek Sharma, Kanav Sharma, Karan Mehra, Hema Shivgotra, Tejan Bharti, Aakash Sharma & Pranav Sharma. Back stage team includes: Make up – Shammi Dhamir, Choreography – Romit Sawhney, Costumes- Niharika Sakshi, Hema Shivgotra, Sets & Properties- Karan Mehra & Akash Sharma, Lights- Pankaj Sharma, Assistant Director -Aaditya Bharti, Show hosted by Safir Hussain & Music, Design & Direction – Abhishek Bharti. On the second day of National Theatre, Ras Kala Manch Haryana will perform Vibha Rani’s Doosra Aadmi Doosri Aurat under the Direction of Ravi Mohan Ras.