Bhasha stages Nadim’s opera at Abhinav Theatre

Artists performing in Dina Nath Nadim’s opera Vitasta at Abhinav Theatre Jammu.
Artists performing in Dina Nath Nadim’s opera Vitasta at Abhinav Theatre Jammu.

Scintillating performance by artists

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, July 24: A scintillating performance of Dina Nath Nadim’s classic opera Vitasta was performed before a Jam-packed audience here at Abhinav Theatre in Jammu, today. After its grand successful shows in SKICC, Srinagar, Central Vista, India Gate and National School of Drama, New Delhi, famous cinema and theatre artist and director of the opera, Bhasha Sumbli held a special show of Vitasta for Jammu which was performed by her team ‘Hima Kaul Kalanidhi’, presented by NSD in collaboration with JKAACL.
Kuldeep Khoda, former Director General Police, J&K was the chief guest.
The programme had a decorated panel of guests of honour including Ratan Lal Shant, eminent author, Kailash Mehra Sadhu, legendary Singer, Kiran Wattal, Ex-Municipal Commissioner, Jammu, Padmashree Rajender Tikku, globally decorated sculptor and Ashok Aima, Ex-VC Central University, Jammu.
A Sangeet Natak Akademi Yuva Awardee, Bhasha chose to direct this classic opera of Nadim to instil a sense of connection and pride about Indian cultural and civilisational heritage amongst the young generation of J&K artists.
After finishing the shoot of her next big film as lead actress, after the blockbuster ‘The Kashmir Files’, Bhasha Sumbli, illustrious daughter of the soil, trained a troupe of young artists of Jammu for 45 days to perform the opera. She expressed gratitude to Jammu and said she wants to further hone the skills of the talented youth of Jammu by imparting them theatre training by herself and her team of internationally trained theatre experts.
The performance text of Nadim’s Kashmiri opera was based on the Hindi translation by eminent poet Agnishekhar, choreography and acting input by Vandana Vashisht, set design by Shyam Sahani, property design and make up by Virji Sumbly, costumes by Mansi Rattan and Chandramohan, light design by Tamilarasi R. and Shivam Singh, Music by Pt. Virender Mohan and Pt. Kishan Langoo, play back voices: Shameema Dev Azad, Kailash Mehra Sadhu, Ghulam Hassan Sofi, Dr Deepali Wattal, Kuldeep Kalla and others.
Live Music was given by Anmol, Nischit, Rahul. Music operation was handled by Vishal. Associate direction, study and research of texts like Neelmat Purana was by Sunil Soni who also performed the central character of Neel Nag.
Other actors who performed with brilliance were Abhishake, Nazuk, Soham, Mohit, Harshita, Shriya, Akriti, Anisha, Sahil, Sahoul, Rishav, Shyam, Sunil and Bhasha herself. The entire beautifully staged programme was anchored by the famous RJ of J&K Ramesh Marhatta in his soulful voice.