Excelsior Correspondent
![A scene from play ‘Maha Balidaan’ staged at Performing Art Studio on Saturday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/page10-11-300x168.jpg)
JAMMU, Oct 5: Sangam Tru Art Production in collaboration with Ministry of Culture, Government of India staged a play “Maha Balidaan” written by Shiv Dev Sushil and directed by Romesh Chander at Performing Art Studio, Kachi Chowni.
On the occasion, Anu Gupta, President, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Front was the chief guest and Usha Anand, Educationist/social worker was the guest of honour.
The story of the play has been introduced in a post independence Indian village. It highlighted the cruelties and bad deeds of Jagirdars under autocratic regimes of Maharaja. Tenants work around the clock but in turn they never properly enabled them to feed their families properly. In the mean times the landlord again raised the burden of rent which was unbearable on the shoulders of poor farmers. But the farmers never raised their voice and behaved like dumb dolls.
The courage was displayed by ‘Bua’ wife of Numberdar of the village who approaches the landlords to exempts the extra tax burden on farmers. The landlord makes mockery of her and alleges her for conspiracy in the village. Bua remained firm and gave her precious life in her struggle against tyrant landlords.
Later on the passage of time she was considered as incarnation of Goddess who fought against evil and people started worshipping her with religious fevour. The play also depicts the orthodox culture of Indian village society which was and still is in the grip of superstitions and other social evils.
The artists who participated in the play were Usha Slathia as Bua, Jeet Raj Gondi as Kattal, Deepak Singh Jamwal as Laaddaar, Rakesh Dogra as Lambardaar, Sandeep Sharma as Chowkidar, Dilshad Shazi as Jogi, Satish Bhat, Manik Mahajan, Ashish Bhat, Ankush Dutt, Kebbu Kabir, Sanjay Saini, Kamaljeet Singh and Sanjeev Sharma. The make up was done by Shashi Bhushan and music was composed by Sanjay Sanni, costumes were designed by Reetu Manhas, light were designed by Aditya Bhanu.
At last, Romesh Chander, Director of the production presented vote of thanks.