Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Dec 15: Artistic adaptation of Duggar’s folk love story Kunju-Chanchalo in Dogri staged under title Blood and Beauty by Natraj Natya Kunj, marked ninth day of ongoing annual theatre festival at the Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Written by Kumar A Bharti and directed Abhishek Bharti, today’s play based on four-hundred years old love story while transporting the audience to socio-cultural roots and value system that define the identity of Dogras, also came out as a well-orchestrated artistic spectacle conceived in form of a folk ballad.
The plot of dramatized version of play revolves around Kunju, a brave solider of a Raja who is in love with Chanchalo, a dancer. The jealous Wazir in order to separate the lovers incites the issueless Raja to take Chanchalo as his Rani. In order to separate the lovers, Raja sends Kunju to a battle, where the scheming Wazir kills him. Unable to bear loss of her lover, Chanchalo also kills herself and curses the royal couple. Full of remorse, Raja also kills himself, while the cunning Wazir is put to death by Chanchalo’s Eunuch Guru. The Rani is left behind all alone.
The characteristic style of presentation which has come to be associated with plays directed by young talented Abhishek Bharti, today’s play in verse was a kind of collage in which dramatic action narrated through theatrical elements drawn from folk forms like Haran, Bhaakh, was interspersed with well choreographed compositions in modern idiom. The intelligent use of newly installed spot lights, background songs and music along with a live song sequence-helped to bring best out of the actors who gave a commendable performance which got standing ovation from the audience.
The cast included Aman Deep as Raja, Sars Bharti as Rani, Mukesh Bakshi as Wazir, Akshay Razdan as Kunju, Sushmita Banerjee as Chanchalo, Rakesh Dogra as Lambardar/Sutradhar I, Karan Mehra as Chowkidar/Narrator II, Karan Sharma as Shiboo and Lalit, Neha, Shubangi, Vishal, Niharika Sakshi-Chorus. Aditya Bharti was the assistant director. Music was designed by Surinder Singh Manhas, make-up by Shammi Dhamir, choreography by Romit Sawhney/Nirija Sharma, light by Pawan Bhardwaj and costumes by Sonia Dubey. Tomorrow Nav Durga Kala Manch will present Hindustani play Mein Zinda Hoon.
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