Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: ‘Salvaton Mein Sanvaad’, a play in Hindi by eminent playwright Mani Madhukar was staged here today at Natrang Studio Theatre in its ‘Sunday Theatre’. Directed by Anil Tickoo, the play focuses the decay of values in the younger generation. One of the boldest Hindi plays on illicit relations exposes immorality in a highly dramatic manner.
The play “Salvaton Mein Sanvaad” opens with an anxious father waiting to meet ‘Neeta’ his daughter outside her hostel. The warden of the hostel informs him that she has gone to Pune for a debate competition. Neeta’s close friend finding him alone draws him into a conversation, which slowly unfolds the other dark side of Neeta’s secret life, of which her father was totally unaware. He comes to know that Neeta has disappeared intentionally, as she was not interested to meet him.
The father gets a shock when he comes to know that her daughter has not gone to Pune but staying back with her boyfriend. His shocking state reaches the climax when he comes to know that his daughter is aware of the bitter truth that she is not his daughter but of his grandfather. This harsh reality was revealed to her by her mother before she died of TB.
In the end, in a suffocating state, he begs for some fresh air, crying, “Only air has a right on itself”. She replies sarcastically, “No! We the new generation have a right on the air.” The play concludes with this bitter note.
Two senior artists of Natrang, Neeraj Kant and Renu Sharma who played the role of father and the daughter’s friend respectively demonstrated their versatility. The lights were designed and executed by Ankush Lakhnotra whereas the music was scored by Uplaksh Singh Kotwal. Sets were erected by Mohd Yaseen and Shekhar Sharma. Rahul Singh did the presentations and Sumeet Sharma coordinated the show.