Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 15: Natrang celebrated its 38th Foundation Day with series of events including a webinar and screening of the film, featuring actors of Natrang sharing their narratives.
The highlight of the Foundation Day celebrations was the emotional address by its founder Director Balwant Thakur live from the city of Johannesburg, South Africa.
While congratulating all for making this possible, he also expressed his heartiest gratitude to everyone who contributed immensely for the growth and development of this brand called ‘Natrang’. He further said that in last 37 years through the selfless contribution of thousands of its associates, Natrang has brought the J&K theatre to the National and International limelight and its highly acclaimed plays vibrated the theatre world and proudly travelled the whole length and breadth of the country.
He said apart from crossing the boundaries of India, Natrang has won appreciation in Russia, Germany, UK, Singapore, Turkey, Hungary, Poland, South Africa and UAE and thus established a globally acknowledged brand.
This organization has been highly instrumental in giving a new cultural and intellectual identity to this part of the country and revolutionized the cultural life of the place through its out of the world creative initiatives.
Natrang was established on May 15, 1983 with the presentation of two unique short plays ‘Neeli Jheel’ and ‘Nanhen Kandhey Pair’ directed by Balwant Thakur at Abhinav Theatre Jammu.
The actors who featured in first performance of Natrang included Vijay Atri, Aasha Arora, Arvind Anand, Mohan Singh, Prabodh Jamwal and Arun Sharma.
“In 37 years, the plays which vibrated the theatre scene of the country included ‘Bawa Jitto’ ‘Ghumayee’ ‘Mahabhoj’ ‘Aap Hamare Hain Kaun’ ‘Chauraha’ ‘Poster’ ‘Mere Hisse Ki Dhoop Kahan Hai’ ‘Sainyan Bhaye Kotwal’ ‘Raktbeej’ ‘Comedy of Terrors’ ‘Suno Eh Kahani’ ‘Kanjoos’ ‘Holi’ ‘Mind Games’ ‘Richard III’ ‘Choona Hai Aasmaan’ and ‘Kaun Nachaye Naach’ etc. Natrang has produced over two thousand actors and many have made their mark in films and TV world as well,” Thakur said.
He expressed that Natrang has a dream for Jammu and a mission to establish this place as an International destination of theatre. The Institution is all set to create an International level campus in Jammu housing an auditorium, two Studio Theatres, theatre residences, resource centre and a an exclusive centre for children.
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