JU hosts Natrang’s play ‘Naye Yug Ki Naari’

Artists of the play with Balwant Thakur and chief guest.
Artists of the play with Balwant Thakur and chief guest.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 9: Department of Students Welfare, in collaboration with the Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Jammu, hosted an outstanding performance of Natrang’s hard-hitting play ‘Naye Yug Ki Naari’ at University of Jammu, here today.
The play has been written and directed by Padmashri Balwant Thakur.
Prof Anju Bhasin, Dean Academic Affairs, JU, was the chief guest on the occasion. She appreciated the performance for its content, form and energy of the performers.
In her welcome address, Prof Monika Chadha, Chairperson Campus Cultural Committee, informed about several new initiatives being introduced by the Department of Students Welfare to vivify the cultural and literary landscape of the University under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Umesh Rai.
The play ‘Naye Yug Ki Naari’ was produced by Natrang under an initiative aimed at popularising and propagating the art of theatre amongst youth. In this process, Natrang offered an intense theatre training programme to both the women colleges of the city and selected 30 girls were exposed to the various elementary aspects of theatre. Followed by the elementary training, they were introduced to the production process of theatre in which the play ‘Naye Yug Ki Naari’ was produced under the direction and mentorship of Balwant Thakur.
Play ‘Naye Yug Ki Naari’ speaks loudly about the new-age women. Opening with a narrative full of depressing stories of the exploitation of women from birth to death, the play depicts the odyssey of women from patriarchal times-the harrowing experience of the times to her unwavering commitment to be a part of change and transformation.
Prominent poet and composer Brij Mohan significantly collaborated this play musically and the same was supported by senior artist Veerji Sumbli in design and craft. Experienced Neeraj Kant ably assisted Balwant Thakur in mounting this vibrant production whereas Mohd Yaseen was the coordinator. Others who assisted the shows included Aadesh Dhar and Kushal Bhat.
The actors who received accolades, repeated thunderous applause and standing ovations included Pragi Sharma, Aradhana Soodan, Shalini Bhagat, Mahi Verma, Lakshita Devi, Ayushika Rajput, Meenu Sharma, Aakriti Jamwal, Isha Gupta, Harmandeep Kour, Prerna Sharma, Divyanshi Sharma, Kibriya Gohar, Geeta Thakur, Simran Rajput, Simran Bhagat, Palak Thappa, Pooja Thakur and Pratibha Verma.