Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 24: Balwant Thakur’s internationally acclaimed Dogri play ‘Ghumayee’, a mind blowing presentation of Natrang featured here today in an online event entitled ‘Abhivyakti’ organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
Produced in the year 2000, the play brought Jammu and Dogri Theatre into international limelight.
The play is based on Dogri folk tale of a hilly village and opens with ‘Vidai’ scene after the solemnization of a marriage and bride is being carried in a ‘Doli’ to her in-law’s place. As the tough climb begins, thirsty ‘Dulhan’ asks for water. Her request is laughed away and no heed is paid. As the track becomes strenuous, her thirst intensifies and repeated entreaties end up in assurance of water at next available source. A stage is reached when the thirst becomes unbearable and Doli is put down with halting the journey.
All and one are requested to do the needful and arrange water. In the quest a water source is sited but is miles down in a gorge, extremely difficult to reach. Repeated requests of bridegroom fail to evoke any response, as the job requires superhuman effort. The plight of ‘Dulhan’ prompts a young man to volunteer for the job. All present there warn him of probable consequences but he is undeterred.
During the ensuing discussions, the groom in an insolent tone bets away his bride in lieu of water. Thus begins the struggle for water. The young man, putting his life in extreme danger, overcomes all hurdles and ultimately succeeds in bringing the water. As the bride quenches her thirst, the young man dies out of sheer exhaustion. In a stunned atmosphere, ‘Baraties’ decide to continue the journey but ‘Dulhan’ declares herself widow and cries out a wail (Ghumayee).
Artists who acted in the play were Vikrant Sharma, Anil Tickoo, Neeraj Kant, Subash Jamwal, Suresh Kumar, Mahikshit Singh, Gauri Thakur, Sushant Singh, Vrinda Sharma, Meenakshi Bhagat, Shivam Singh, Sumit Raina, Abhinav Sharma and Manoj Lalotra.
The music was composed by Suraj Singh and lights were designed and executed by Suraj Ganjoo.
The audiography of the play was designed and executed by Mohd Yaseen.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
