Rang Pratibha for web - Sangeet Natak Akademi

Sangeet Natak Akademi, New DelhiNational Academy of Music, Dance and Dramarang pratibhaFestival of plays by young directors of Punjab30 August – 05 September 2012, Patiala

ang pratibhaFESTIVAL OF PLAYS BY YOUNG DIRECTORS OF PUNJAB30 August – 5 September 2012Kala Bhawan, Punjabi University, PatialaIn collaboration withPunjab Sangeet Natak Akademi, Chandigarh&Youth Welfare Department,Punjabi University, Patiala

ang pratibhaProgramme: 5 p.m. dailyKala Bhawan, Punjabi University, PatialaThursday 30 AugustInaugurationMando PUNJABI / 105 minutesDirector: RAJINDER SINGH, AmritsarFriday 31 AugustPanj Ishq PUNJABI / 75 minutesDirector: MANDEEP KAUR, AmritsarSaturday 1 SeptemberThought MULTILINGUAL / 74 minutesDirector: CHAKRESH KUMAR, ChandigarhGagan Damama Bajio PUNJABI / 50 minutesDirector: KRANTI PAL SINGH, BeasSunday 2 SeptemberF I R HINDI / 60 minutesDirector: VIJAY KUMAR, ChandigarhInna Di Awaaj PUNJABI / 75 minutesDirector: MALKIAT RAUNI, Chamkaur SahibMonday 3 SeptemberDarling HINDI / 90 minutesDirector: RAVINDER KUMAR, ChandigarhTuesday 4 SeptemberCourt Martial HINDI / 110 minutesDirector: GAURAV VIJ, AboharWednesday 5 SeptemberAgli Dastak Hon Ton Pehlan PUNJABI / 80 minutesDirector: AMIT SHARMA, Moga

THURSDAY 30 AUGUSTMando PUNJABIWritten by Ravi NandanDirected by RAJINDER SINGH, Dastak, AmritsarDuration: 105 minutesSynopsisMando is a play on the life of Shiv Kumar Batalvi who is hailed as one ofthe great poets whose poems enliven the romantic poetry tradition ofPunjab. The play not only portrays the major life-events of the poet butalso investigates the circumstances behind the occurrences. In thisprocess, many characters come to the fore. Some of them were real, whilethe others emerge to tell Shiv's story. Help has also been taken from otherwritings on the life of Shiv such as those by Bhushan Dhianpuri, andSurjeen Mann.Director's NoteShiv Kumar Batalvi who died in his mid-30s is still alive in the hearts ofthe people of the Punjab. We develop a certain familiarity with the poet aswe read his poems. However, even though people read his poetry, theyhardly know the circumstances that led him to pen down his poems.Hence, portraying those circumstances and his life as such to the audience

is the only objective of this production. Given that todays's lifestyle of theyoungsters has very little to do with literature, we not only tried toconnect ourselves to the poet but also strove to make the young audienceconnect with his poetic outpourings.About the DirectorStarting his career in 1989, Rajinder Singh achievedhis postgraduation in acting from the NationalSchool of Drama, New Delhi. He has also workedwith the Repertory Company of the National Schoolof Drama.Some of the noted plays directed by him are: Agad-Akharha, Phooti Dholak, Ishq Su Jag Da Mool,Wehan Paye Dariya, Baby, Smile Train, Cosmonaut,Uppatt, Jin Dhoonda Tin Paaya, Sadhran, Robotand Titli, Napunsak, Kadwa Sach, Jhula, Phir OhiBasta, and Mando.He has also acted in many plays directed by renowned directors such asAnuradha Kapur, Abhilash Pillai, DR Ankur, Ram Gopal Bajaj, KNPannikar, Robin Das, Rob Claire, MK Raina and Kewal Dhaliwal.Rajinder Singh has written and adapted plays like Wehan paye Dariya,Phooti Dholak, Zulwa, Smile Train, Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam (with Biplovand Sara Rai), Napunsak, Kadwa Sach, Jhula, Agad-Akhara, and Saddran.At the international level he has performed the play named Midnight'sChildren in the Biennale Bonn Festival (2006) in Germany.About the GroupDastak is a theatre group based in Amritsar. The group was found in 1996.It has conducted many workshops in schools and colleges with the aim ofencouraging interest in and appreciation of theatre amongst youngsters.Some of its most popular productions include Saddran, Jin Dhoonda TinPaya, Baby, Uppatt, Ishq Su Jag Da Mool, Wehan Paye Dariya, Agad-Akhara and Mando. Over the years it has travelled with its productions allover India.

CastShiv Kumar: Diljeet SonaKuri no.1 and Aruna: Nazish\MonikaThor & Kudi 2: NavjinderMother of Aruna: GurmeetShiv Kumar in Childhood: Navneet KahlonDwarka, Sardar Writer, Mr. Singh & Writer1: VishalAalam: Ravi SharmaFattu, Munda, Suterdhar & Avinas: VishnuSahitykar 2: Arun RuhalaBuzurag Sahitykar 3 & Writer 3: Satnam MuddalUrdu Shayar & Writer 2: NavdeepGeet, Friend of Shiv Kumar: SandeepPalwan & Writer 1: SaajanMeharbaan (Son of Shiv Kumar): SiddhrathPooja (Daughter of Shiv Kumar): HarnamanCreditsMusic: Ravi NandanCo-Singer: Gurpreet & HargunSarangi: HardialGuitar: RamanTabla: RajinderSet & Props Designed by Rajesh SinghAsst. byCostume Designed by Babita PandeyAsst. by ShefaliLight Designed by Kumaradas T.NChoreography: Amit SaxenaAsst. by Puja Sharma

FRIDAY 31 AUGUSTPanj Ishq PUNJABIWritten by Simrat GaganDirected by MANDEEP KAUR, Aktors on Stage, AmritsarDuration: 75 minutesSynopsisPanj Ishq is a ‘Kaav Natak'. It is a collection of dramatized versions ofbeautiful poems woven into a mesh to create the story of a woman, whois trapped within five separate identities of her life which deprive her ofher own identity. The play is an attempt to search for her lost identity.This play depicts the journey of a woman from defeat to self-realization.The woman portrayed here is abandoned by the love of her life on thepretext of his social obligations and responsibilities. As though that wasnot enough, she is demanded of a sacrifice by her parents and brother tomaintain their honour intact, and she is married off to a person unknownto her. Her inability to come to terms with her new relationship furtherworsens the situation and her husband leaves her. With nowhere to go,she turns to God for help but she feels denied even then. Indeed, shefeels herself to be like an outcaste and this entire journey finally forces herto look inside her to discover her unique identity in life.About the DirectorMandeep has been actively working in the field oftheatre for the last 18 years. She started her actingcareer in Chandigarh with eminent director BhajiGursharan Singh. She also worked with Sahib

Singh. Later she came to Amritsar where she has worked with KewalDhaliwal and Neeta Mahindra in plays such as Dolls House, Lal Batti,Paedaan, Partapi, Baba Bantu, Gaddi Chadan di Kahl Badi Si. Currently,she is actively involved in theatre as a director also. Panj Ishq was herdirectorial debut. She has also directed other plays such as Khande diDhaar, E Zindagi and Choti Sardarni.About the GroupEstablished in the year 2006, Aktors On Stage has made its presence feltamong the audiences and theatre persons by presenting various stageplays especially for the last 5 years. Panj Ishq, Khande di dhaar, EZindagi, Chhoti Sardarni are few of the selected presentations of thegroup.CastMehtaab-1: Mandeep KaurMehtaab-2: Meenu GhaiMehtaab-3: Aman BallFather: Gulshan saggiMother: SumanBrother: Pargat singhLover: Sudesh winkleHusband: Gurtej maanDancers (Female): Muskan, Pehchan, Monica SharmDancers (Male): Vishu Sharma, Gagan Deep, AzeezCreditsPoetess: Simrat GaganMusic: Ravi Nandan

SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBERThought MULTILINGUALWritten by Niresh KumarDesign and Direction: CHAKRESH KUMAR, Alankar Theatre, ChandigarhDuration: 74 minutesSynopsisThought is a story of a middle class man Sanjay Sharma, who is in a stateof confusion regarding life and relationships. One day while looking for acoupon in a newspaper he reads the ‘Thought for the Day’, and as theday passes he relates his whole day with that ‘Thought’, starting from hiswife and daughter to office boss and colleagues. So, he starts followingthe daily ‘Thoughts for the Day' from the newspaper. One morning hefinds no thought in the newspaper. He gets lost in the thoughts whichdisturbed him earlier. A statement from a roadside guy makes himunderstand the philosophy of life and relationship.Director's NoteThe play deals with some serious questions and issues that come across inour day-to-day lives. Some of them may have lasting impact on our overalloutlook. In spite of the seriousness of the issues, the treatment of thesubject has been kept light and comic. The play entertains while giving a

message. The moral of the story is – don't carry extra baggage ofunnecessary thoughts. Live the way you want to.About the DirectorChakresh Kumar has been associated with theatre for the last 10 years. Heearned his postgraduate degre in Dramatic Artsfrom the Indian Theatre Department. He has actedin more that 35 plays directed by different directorssuch as Neelam Mansingh Chowdhary, Rani BalbirKaur, Gursharan Singh Channi, Rashid Ansari, D.R.Ankur and Ranjeet Kapoor to name a few. Chakreshhas directed a number of plays includingAndhayug, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream,Ram Sanjeevan Ki Prem Katha, One or The Part of Two, Thought.About the GroupAlankar provides a platform to those who are interested in issue-basedwork related with our society. The sole aim of the group has always beento work towards the betterment of the society by instilling the idea ofbrotherhood among our countrymen through service to the commonmasses.The group consists of youth actors and directors who have the zeal tomake a difference, falling in the age group of 15 to 70. The associatedyouth get an opportunity to enhance their knowledge, that furtherprovides an excellent platform and gives an impetus to serve the societyconsisting of various communities. By doing so a healthy relationshipamong the people worldwide is developed within a framework of aneducational theatre.CastVivek Sharma, Khushbu, Kuldeep Sharma, Varun Khokhar, Chandan Gill,Jatin Pandit, Karanveer Khullar, Minka, Ishani, Pankaj Upadhyay, AbhinavChabra, Vinod, Neil, Ravinder Singh, Vandana, Bhopraj, Sahil, JyotiCreditsLive Music by Karanveer, Minka and Ravinder Singh

SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBERGagan Damama Bajio PUNJABIWritten by Piyush MishraDirected by KRANTI PAL SINGH, Navchintan Kala Manch, BeasDuration: 50 minutesSynopsisGagan Damama Bajio begins with Shri Batukeshwar Dutt – a well-knownfreedom fighter, hospitalized in Safdarjung Hospital of Delhi. A cofreedomfighter visits him who has anti-Bhagat Singh views. He remindshim of the past and flashback begins with Shaheed Bhagat Singh,Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru, B.K Dutt and Sukhdev. After the assemblyblast incidence, the play comes back to 1965 to the time when B.K. Duttdies. Again a flashback is shown where the death sentence to BhagatSingh, Sukhdev and Rajguru is announced. Now when we come back, it isthe year 1994. The person who had visited Shri Batukeshwar Dutt is nowan old man. This time he visits Shiv Verma, another freedom fighterhaving pro-Bhagat Singh views. He tries to convince him that freedomwas not attained because of Bhagat Singh. But in the end the visitorhimself becomes convinced that he wishes to be like Bhagat Singh. Butdue to his inability to be so he develops an antipathy towards BhagatSingh. The play ends on a wonderful note relating the relevance ofindependence today.

About the DirectorKranti Pal Singh has been associated with theatresince his childhood. He has inherited the artthrough his father who himself is the President ofhis group Navchintan. Kranti Pal Singh is workingprofessionally as a director. He has been presentinghis plays in the youth festival for six years. He haspresented his plays all over Punjab. He has madehis presence felt in Punjabi theatre with productions such as GaganDamama Bajio and Spartacus.About the GroupNavchintan Kala Manch was established in 1988 by S. Hansa Singh – aclose associate of S. Gursharan Singh. Apart from regular theatre activities,the group presents plays which highlight the evils of drug addiction, andproblems such as unemployment. The group is known for its plays withreligious themes. Some of the most noted plays of the group are: MittiRudan Kare, Parakh and Hanerey Channanne.Cast and CreditsJatinder Suri, Vikramjeet Singh, Sumeet Kalia, Divyesh Dutta, Tarun Arora,Harpreet Singh, Bhawna Sharma, Paras Bajaj, Honey Mattu, ParamjeetSingh, Paras Sharma, Sarthak Mahendroo, Karan Maini

SUNDAY 2 SEPTEMBERFIR HINDIDirected by VIJAY KUMAR, Mask Theatre, ChandigarhDuration: 60 minutesSynopsisThe play FIR is a satire on the incorrigibly corrupt police system, andowes its inspiration to Hindi play Panchnama. The play also commentson our politicians who are insensitive towards the pathetic condition ofthe common man. The play is set in a police station where differentcharacters appear to register an FIR. The play begins with two policemendrinking liquor in the police station. They are informed of the possiblearrival of a new SHO anytime. The SHO has also served in CID, so hemay come to the police station in disguise. The cleaning action begins. Itis then that Ravana enters to register an F.I.R. The policemen take him forthe new S.H.O. They treat him with respect. The confused Ravanaexplains he is not the S.H.O. The policemen now treat Ravana very badlyand keep him in lock up. The play moves towards its climax with anumber of other characters coming to register one F.I.R. Now entersMahatma Gandhi just before the climax. Gandhiji has come to awaken theconscience of policemen. He makes them understand the importance of acorruption free life and meaning of the service of the motherland. Thepolicemen, now enlightened, decide to live a corruption free life fromnow on. As Gandhiji takes exit, enters a Neta (leader). The leader hascome to pressurize the policemen to keep a very slow pace on theenquiries about a rape case against him. But the policemen simply refuseto oblige him. But when the leader offers to open his coffers to them, theycould not resist the temptation of big money. They implicate their owncolleague Constable Sita Ram in the case. The constable is an honest andsincere policeman.Director's NoteOur system is bogged down in corruption of different kinds. Corruption isa major issue that adversely affects not only our economy but also ourmoral life and values. I wished to make my own humble contribution inmy own style in the fight against this evil. So I chose FIR. The treatment ofthe subject has been kept light so as to keep the audience's interest alive.

About the DirectorVijay Kumar has been actively associated with theatre since 1993, andwhen he was only a student of 8th standard. He began his theatre lifewith Shri Zulfiqar with whom he attended a number of workshops, actedin proscenium and street plays. Later, Vijay joined Shri GS Channi's groupwhere his career took a new turn towards a more professional approach.He began to go on tours and witness performances of others. In 2003, hestarted to work with street children who were begging or polishing boots,etc., to earn their livelihood. Since then most of his work has consisted ofstreet plays with children. Vijay Kumar is taking classes in schools andcolleges nowadays. He has also visited Pakistan. He is the recipient ofSangeet Natak Akademi's Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2007.About the GroupMask Theatre is a Chandigarh-based theatre group working in the field oftheatre for the last 10 years. The group has been consistently presentingstage and street plays, also puppet shows to both urban and ruralpopulation. The group also conducts special workshops withunderprivileged children in different villages and slums. They organizeone-day drama activities in schools to aware the students aboutcleanliness. The group consists of amateur theatre activists with aprofessional outlook. The group uses the medium of theatre to enlightenthe masses on social and environmental issues. Mask Theatre also hosts anannual theatre festival named Katha Manchan by selling off scrap papercollected over the year from residents. No grant from any government ornon-government organization is taken for the same. The stories enactedare on social evils prevalent in the society.Cast and CreditsSHO: Naresh AdhikariMunshi: AmritConstable-1: AbhayConstable-2: AnuragSita Ram: SiddharthRavan: Vijay KumarGandhiji: Jasvir KumarMrs Motiwala: SomyaReporter: Rekha DoraChowkidar: RinkuMuttu Swami: JaggaGay: Ravi KumarBaba: Surender

SUNDAY 2 SEPTEMBERInna Di Awaaj PUNJABIWritten by Asghar WajahatTranslation in Punjabi by Amarjeet ChandanDirected by MALKIAT SINGH, Chetna Kala Manch, Chamkaur SahibDuration: 75 minutesSynopsisThe play describes how the politics of power destroys art and culture.The exploitation is done in such a way that even the artist couldn’t knowhow he has been exploited. How, an artist transforms into a brute and atyrant is depicted in the play.About the DirectorMalkiat Rauni’s association with theatre began withBhaji Gursharan Singh, when he was just a studentof 8th standard. With Bhaji he got an opportunity toreach every nook and corner of Punjab, spreadingthe message of awareness against social evils.Malkiat has also worked with other directors suchas Ajmer Aulakh, Lakkha Lehri, Aneeta Shabdeesh,and Davinder Daman to name a few.About the GroupSince its inception in 1992, the Chetna Kala Manch has been active inChamkaur Sahib and Chandigarh. The group produces Hindi and Punjabiplays regularly. Over the years, the group has carved out a niche for itselfin the theatre of Punjab attracting a sizeable audience.CastDaroga: Harvinder AujalaFassi: Jarnail SinghSultan: Harpreet SinghMallika: Gurpreet Kaur BhanguInna: Charan SainiNartaki: Deepti Sharma

Sipahi: Nusrat Khan, Arandeep Singh, Lakhwinder SinghRahgir: Balwinder Happy, Gurpreet KaurVillage people: Labh Singh, Arjun RishiCreditsMusicians: Gagandeep Ali (Harmonium), Ravi Kumar (Dholak)Singers: Makkhan Singh, Lakkha SinghLyrics: ShabdeeshLighting: ManbhavanSets: Makkhan Singh, Rana RandeepMake-up: Kuldeep, Kaka SinghCostume: Deepti Sharma, Gurpreet Kaur

MONDAY 3 SEPTEMBERDarling HINDIWritten by Anton ChekhovTranslated and Directed by RAVINDER KUMAR, Rudra Theatre Company,ChandigarhDuration: 90 minutesSynopsisThe play Darling is a story of the girl, Olenka, who could not live withoutloving someone. She falls in love with a man and marries him. She iscompletely surrendered to him. She talks what her husband talks and shehas no opinion of her own.The play starts with her falling in love with a theatre director, Kukin. Astime passes she starts repeating things Kukin talks about. Her viewsbecome those of her husband's. After some time he dies leaving heralone. She becomes sad and lonely. After three months a Christmas partyis organized in the village where she meets Pustavalove, who is into abusiness of buying and selling wood. In no time she falls in love with himand they get married. For six years they happily live together and in allthese years she only talks about wood, and its increasing prices. However,one day Pustavalove dies after catching cold and Olenka is left all aloneonce again. But she starts loving Simarnin, a veterinary doctor who hasbeen living in her house as a tenant for a long time. He was married andalso has a son but lives away from his wife as she had cheated him. When

Pustavalove was alive she used to advice him to go back as his son wouldsuffer in the end.As their love story begins Olenka starts talking of Horses and animals.After some time he is transferred to a far off land and Olenka isolatesherself and loses all her charm.But he returns after some years. This time with his wife and son, Sashaand now Olenka's attention, love and care shifts completely to Sasha. Inthe end all she talks about is lengthy lessons and heavy bags.Director's NoteI chose this play because of the love which has been beautifullyshowcased in the story by the writer. This play has always been very closeto my heart due to the fact that it depicts sweet innocent and humanaspects of love in a very creative way. I personally feel that love createsamazing moments in every human's life and changes the perspective withwhich he or she looks at things. The story expresses love in its purity. Ihave tried to bring forth the same expression which Anton has written andI hope I will succeed in my effort and bring alive Anton's characters onstage and touch the heart of the audience.About the DirectorRavinder Kumar has been working in the field oftheatre for the last 15 years. He joined theatre rightafter his schooling. In all these years he hasperformed various puppet, stage, and street plays.Initially attracted towards acting, he later shifted hisfocus to direction. Some of the plays directed byRavinder Kumar are: The Legend of Bhagat Singh,FIR, Ramayana, Bhagat Singh ek Soch, Romance,Prem Rang, Jeevit or Mrit, and Metamorphosis.Ravinder Kumar achieved his Bachelor's degree from KurukshetraUniversity. He has worked with Dadi Pudumjee. Ravinder is also activelyinvolved in directing and performing street plays in Chandigarh, Punjab,Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

About the GroupRudra Theatre Company is a Chandigarh-based organization promotingtheatre. It is a group of young artists out of which some are students,some are into jobs and some are professionally involved in theatre. Aftertheir day's work, they get together and enact plays on social issues for theuplift of the society. We use these plays as a medium to reach out topeople in the villages on issues such as cleanliness, female foeticide, drugaddiction, AIDS awareness, environmental, forest and water conservation,population control, social inequalities, etc.CastOlenka: Soumya SinghOlenka 2: Pooja DhawanKukin, Pustovalov, Simernin: Abhay Singh LongiaAnton: Anurag ShandilyaAnna: Honey MehraSasha: AkshayVillager 1 and puppet: AmritVillager 2 and puppet: NitinVillager 3 and puppet: Pooja DhawanVillager 4 and puppet: SiddhantVillagers 5 and Puppet: PurnimaCreditsMusic: Kamini MehtaLighting Design and Operating: Ravinder KumarCostumes: Rekha MachalStage Manager: Vijay Machal

TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBERCourt Martial HINDIWritten by Swadesh DeepakTranslated and Directed by GAURAV VIJ, Sparsh Theatre Society, AboharDuration: 110 minutesSynopsis“When respect is denied to a man for the only reason that he is borne by‘low-caste' parents, the offence cannot simply be termed as a socialviolence. It assumes larger proportions of crime against humanity andsociety at large.”Sensing the Indian Army is the only government institution which doesnot permit caste-based reservations, Court Martial presents a mixture ofnatural and legal justice, which is not only the truth of the Indian Army,but that of the whole Indian Society. That, despite all his qualifications, anindividual is traumatized because of his low-caste origins is not merelysocial violence, but a crime against humanity. The play hits hard at theroots of casteism in the Indian Army.Court Martial is a story of recruit Ram Chander who is tried for murderingone of his officers and injuring another. The court martial is presided by awar veteran Colonel Surat Singh who has witnessed many life-and-deathsituations. But this trial puts him in a tricky position, so far unexperienced

y him, and during the course of interrogation he realize that the issues atstake are much larger than what meets the eye. This play presents acombination of legal and poetic justiceDirector's NoteEverybody says that India is growing very fast. People are becomingmodern day-by-day. But I feel some people are growing financially. Theirthoughts, their feelings regarding racism are not changing. Everybody whobelongs to low-caste, has to bear this injustice throughout his or her life inone or the other way. Even in the army, where no recruitment is done oncaste basis, this evil prevails. The play makes us understand how thesekinds of racist behaviour lead us to such disasters. The play also revealshow ignorance of such incidents make the situation worse. This playspeaks for itself.About the DirectorGaurav Vij is passionately associated with theatrefor the last many years. He is well-known for hisacting skills as well as for his direction in Punjab.Felicitated by Punjabi Academy, New Delhi for hiswork in theatre, Gaurav Vij began to take theatreseriously and performed lead role in Kumaraswami.The performance earned him recognition amongstthe local theatre groups. His performance in Us NuKahin was also appreciated and he was chosen for Best Actor of PanjabUniversity award. He founded Sparsh Theatre Society at the age of 22 andthe group has produced a number of plays. As an actor, director, orsometime both, he has staged more than 50 full-length plays and hascontributed to raise theatre to quality heights in the remote border area ofAbohar. Being a lecturer in the Department of Commerce in DAV College,Abohar, he has also directed plays for youth festivals which were awardedthe first position for five consecutive years.About the GroupSparsh Theatre Society was founded in 2000 with the slogan of “Theatrefor the sake of theatre”. Starting its production with Pali Bhupinder's Us

Nu Kahin, the group went on to present Sab Kuch Dikhta Hai Sahib.Since its inception the group has produced 20 full-length plays, severalone-act and street plays of all genres. Sparsh Theatre Society is known fornever lending its platform for anything other than theatre, and for alwaysbeginning their shows on time. Many of its artists are showing their talentboth in acting and direction theatre, film and television.Cast(In order of appearance)Colonel Surat Singh: Anil BabbarJudge Consultant- I: Neeraj SachdevaJudge Consultant-II: Sumit ChagtiMajor Ajay Puri: Ashish MakkarCaptain Bikash Rai: Ritesh SharmaSubedar Balwan Singh: AmanCaptain Dr Gupta: Sahil WadhwaLt. Colonel Brajendra Rawat: Anshuman GandhiCaptain BD Kapoor: Tushar NarangRamchander: Ishan SetiaHawaldaar Raj Singh: AjaySoldier-I: SunnySoldier-II: GurudevCreditsMake-up: Boby SandhaLights: Gaurav Vij

WEDNESDAY 5 SEPTEMBERAgli Dastak Hon Ton Pehlan PUNJABIWritten by Dr Pali Bhupinder SinghDirected by AMIT SHARMA, Offstage Group of Theatre, MogaDuration: 80 minutesSynopsisA man sacrifices all his identities in love, but still the shadow of hisexistence keep following him.This play is an account of happenings from the pages of the daily diary ofthe protagonist, a woman who lives and dies every moment.After leaving her community, she eloped and settled with her lover Kabir.So intensly trapped in the love of Kabir was she that after his death shestill waits for Kabir. The protagonist faces death, the infamous honourkilling, she is also sexually tortured. As if to add to her injury, her sonbecomes a terrorist. This play is all about the agony of riot-affectedpeople. However, the agony of any terrorism and riot-affected people isreally too deep to be expressed in words.Director's NoteThe play offers a dig on the social evils which are so deeply rooted in thesoil that a complete revolution is necessary for reformation. Thecommunalism plunging the innocent masses into endless misery, caste

prejudices, and politics designed for vote bank, degeneration of systemand relationships find illustration in the play weaved in otherwiseromantic fervour. The play is a salutation to womanhood in allmanifestations, as a girl, a sister, a daughter, a wife and a mother.About the DirectorAdvocate by profession, Amit Sharma divides histime between theatre and his vocation. He startedhis theatre career as an actor but later he turnedtowards direction. He has worked with Punjabiplaywright-director Pali Bhupinder Singh as anAssistant Director and lighting designer. AmitSharma has directed many Punjabi and Hindi plays.About the GroupOff-Stage Group of Theatre was founded in 2003 with its productionChandan De Ohley. Earlier people associated with this group workedunder the banner of ‘Natyam Abhineta ka Rangmanch' for more than 15years. The Group has produced a number of plays written and directed byPali Bhupinder Singh. The main focus of the Group is to catch the tensionof the life today, to discuss it on stage and to create some moments ofcatharsis through theatre.CastKumar Ajay, Amandeep Singh, Sabhjeet Kaur, Anita Shabdeesh, AmandeepKaur, Mandeep Gill, Rajesh Khurana, Sachin Kohli, Gaurav Singla, DeepakSana, Harsimran SinghCreditsLighting: Gurwinder SinghMake-up: Tejinder Singh Gill