Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Nov 30: Bharten-du’s ‘Andher Nagri’ was performed by Deal Repertory Theatre, Manipur, on the third day of ongoing National Poorvottar Rang Utsav, being organized by National School of Drama in collaboration with at J&K Academy of Art, Culture & Languages, at Abhinav Theatre, here today.
Directed and designed by Pukhrambam Khogendro Singh, today’s play, a political satire that revolves around a Sadhu and two disciples who come to a place where everything is sold for one rupee. Suspecting this to be unusual and abnormal, the Sadhu advises his disciples to leave the place. But one of the disciples out of greed decides to stay back. He soon lands into trouble as the idiot king while dispensing justice in a case orders an innocent person to be hanged. Upon finding the fixed noose, too loose for the thin and scrawny accused, the king orders to find a fat person who could be hanged instead. King’s soldiers capture the greedy disciple to carry out the hanging.
When the Sadhu arrives at the spot, he cleverly convinces the idiot king to hang himself instead, as the day was auspicious and would land him in the heaven full of apsaras. The foolish king hangs himself and the relieved guru and disciple promptly cross the borders of the strange kingdom, vowing never to return again.
Today’s presentation in Manipuri, showcasing the rich legacy of modern Manipur Theatre conspicuous for generating new theatrical expressions from old vocabularies of performance and enhancing production values through the better use of stage technology, came out a visual treat marked with design and scenic brilliance.
Creative use of sets to symbolize forest grove and the royal enclosure, and well-conceived costumes and props, along with background score and light design, contributed to a spectacular experience for the audience.
Tomorrow, on the fourth day of the Poorvottar Rang Utsav, Manoj Kumar Deoraja’s play Nawor will be presented by Tiwa Bhakta-Sanskriti Charcha Samittee, under the direction of Saidul Haque.
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