Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Nov 13: Celebrating the half a century old and continuing tradition of holding annual drama festivals by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) in order to give platform to State’s amateur talent in the field of theatre, the Jammu Annual Theatre Festival 2018, opened with fanfare, at Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Inaugurated by Excise Commissioner J&K, Talat Parvez, the festival opened with Samooh Theatre’s presentation of ‘Dozakh’, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello. Written, adapted and directed by Ravinder Sharma.
In today’s adapted version the plot revolved around Ayub/ Othello, a highly esteemed warrior/general. Kumar/ Iago, Othello’s ambitious and jealous friend, begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero. Ayub marries Ilitza/ Desdemona. Kumar succeeds in poisoning the mind of Ayub. Plots and murders ensue and Ayub returns to the castle to kill his innocent wife. When her innocence is revealed, Ayub kills himself.
The play in Hindustani came out as a kind of pastiche wherein writer/director’s effort to adapt the Shakespearean tragedy by alluding to the present day political turmoil in the Valley, a medley of Muslim and Hindu names of characters, et al did not succeed in its intended import.
The production design bearing the characteristic stamp of Samooh Theatre-one of the few groups to regularly stage Shakespeare’s plays in Jammu-was marked by minimal sets, colorful costumes and affected light design like the red central spot on Kumar’s histrionics helped in creating an effect.
Barring few exceptions like actors entering and exiting from the front of the stage, the grouping in most of the scenes were static. The music, especially the first song, did succeed in conveying the declaration of love for Ayub by Ilitza.
The actors were Vishal Ranjan as Ayub, Disha Bhagat as Ilitza, Shiv Vohra as Kumar, Sheetal Raina as Enna, Shivata Saproo as Rukhsana, Sandeep Manhas as Keshav, Chetan Charak as Balli, Nazuk Bhagat as Zeenat. Other cast members were Vinay Sharma, Ajay Tamang, Kousar Sagar, Aryan Gandotra and Neerupna Jamwal.
The choreography was by Rohit Bains, lights by Ravinder Sharma and Suraj Ganjoo, music by Ravinder Sharma, sound by Lokesh Chander, makeup by Manoj Dhamir and set by Veerjee Sumbli.
Earlier, in his welcome speech, Secretary JKAACL, Dr. Aziz Hajini, noticing very few plays in local languages, urged the local playwrights to pen down the plays which reflect upon local and current issues. Director Information, Tariq Ahmad Zargar, former Secretary JKAACL, Dr. Rafiq Masoodi and trio of the experts Dr. Om Goswami, veteran theatre actor Sushma Sharma and Ravi Kemmu-who will watch all the plays staged during the festival and adjudicate these for awards in various categories, were also present.
Tomorrow the Kashmir play Gadd Bateh will be staged by Vomed Rangmanch.
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