Lalit Gupta
-Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Jan 21: Pancham’s presentation of Makrand Deshpande’s Hindi play Kasturi, was an enthralling production which can be counted as one of the so far best performances in ongoing Annual Drama Festival organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, at Government College for Women auditorium, here today.
Directed by Gurmeet Jamwal, who also played the lead role, the play is a bold attempt to explore female sexuality in its multi-layered dimensions. The play’s protagonists are two women, Kasturi and Maya, who embody contrary feminine impulses. The word Kasturi’s symbolic meaning- which stems from the fact that musk deer chases the wonderful smell that is actually inside its own body, has been used in at a literal level in the play which is about a woman who denies her own sexuality.
Operating through the shifting metaphors of fact and fiction, the play revolves around Maya and her sister Kasturi. While Maya is somber and regimented, Kasturi is full of verve and zest. As the play progresses ‘Kasturi’ played admirably by Poonam Sudan, through recapping of anecdotes hinting at discovery of sexuality during their adolescence and its playing down through innocuous acts-helps Maya to shed the self-imposed psychological fetters only to realize the fullness of her physical self.
The four character play was carried very well by actors Gurmeet Jamwal and Poonam Sudan. The duo not only admirable enacted contrasting roles but also exhibited a total control through flawless speech punctuated with variations along with fluent body movement, especially almost poetic rendering of dance like steps.
The well thought out set design and the intelligent use of props like the dressing table helped the actors to use the space effectively. Despite limitations of infrastructural and equipment, good light and music design was also the highlight of today’s performance. Other members of the cast, Dimple Sharma as E-Bag and Sumit Sudan as Tiger Nawab also acted well.
Background music was designed by Surinder Manhas, sets by Junaid Kak, make-up by Shiv Dev Singh, lights by jai Ram/Pankaj Sharma, sound by Lokesh Chander. Vicky was the choreographer while Poonam Sudan assisted in direction.
Tomorrow, Boorang will present Kashmiri play ‘Graed’ written and directed by Makhan Lal Saraf.
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