Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Mar 22: Manoj Joshi’s iconic play ‘Chanayka’ which marked the opening of Jammu Chapter of 8th Theatre Olympiad, came out to be a life time experience for theatre lovers of the winter capital, at the Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Written by Mihir Bhuta, today’s 1041 performance of the play based on the visionary life of ancient India’s greatest statesman, Chanakya, who played a pivotal role in shaping the idea of a unified nation, kept the house full audience spell bound for two hours and forty minutes due to masterful and well orchestrated acting by cast led by director of the play Manoj Joshi, who also acted the role of Chanayka.
Such as engrossing performance which will be remembered for long, gave a befitting start to the World Theatre festival, organized by National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, under aegis of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, and supported in Jammu by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
Such a peerless performance, excelling in all departments like acting, set design, background musical score, stage lighting, make-up and period costumes, successfully portrayed Chanakya’s single minded pursuit for unified Indian sub-continent some 2300 years ago, who decided that it was imperative to create an authority figure who could rule the subcontinent as well as the hearts of his subjects. It was because of his brilliant maneuvers and the integrity of his intentions that the cruel rule of the Nandas ended and was replaced by the Mauryan Empire, marking the beginning of a new era in Indian history.
Today play, acquires a topicality and contemporary relevance as it also gave out a clarion call to citizens of country to be vigilant about divisive forces, ‘isms’ and dedicate themselves to cause of nation building.
Talking to the audience during an interaction after the play, Manoj Joshi, while throwing light on the conception and the subsequent evolution an play’s continuous performances since 1989, said that the play is our modest attempt to look into the past and to present an opportunity for introspection for society and its leaders.
Earlier the function was inaugurated by Minster for Public Works, Naeem Akhtar, along with eminent theatre personality M. K. Raina, Aziz Hajini, Secretary J&K Cultural Academy and Abdul Latif Khatana, senior faculty, NSD.
Tomorrow, a Bhojpuri play Gabarghichor will be staged by The Fact art & Cultural Society, Begusarai.
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