Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 20: A very well designed performance of a new devised play ‘Padmini’ was presented today here at Natrang Studio Theatre.
The play was an outcome of 20-day theatre workshop conducted by Bipan Gupta, a product of Natrang who further pursued training in acting from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. Today’s performance was a well thought blend of plot, action, music, light and design which was brilliantly exemplified by a team of enthusiastic freshers under the supervision of Bipan Gupta.
The play revolves around a central character ‘Padmini’ who represented all the girls who are deprived of their right of freedom. A country where people worship Goddess and Government runs projects and schemes to save and educate girls, that there are thousands of cases where girls are deprived to live their childhood freely and are forced to follow the whims of the society.
The play happens in a village where people are living in miserable circumstances as there was no rain since many years and people are forced to leave the village in search of food and livelihood. During a grim situation like this, a sage predicts that one auspicious girl will take birth in this village who will bring good luck and prosperity for all and she shall be named ‘Padmini’.
The prophecy turns true and the village witnessed unimaginable prosperity after the birth of that girl. Everything was going very happily till one crooked person decides to take advantage of the superstitious people of village. He announced that the girl is a goddess and shall be worshipped by one and all and huge donations and offerings shall be presented before her to receive the blessings.
He made business out of the superstitions of the people. This in turn snatches the childhood from a 9-year-old girl who encounters hundreds of devotees with their demands and prayers every day. This results in mental imbalance of the girl, who succumbs to the callousness of the society.
Natrang actors who acted in the play include Sushant Singh Charak, Arun Kumar, Sanjay Vijyal, Rahil Sharma, Toyab Hussain, Shivam Sharma, Chahat Katiyal, Shivam Sharma, Vrinda Sharma, Akash Bhat, Manoj Kumar Lalotra, Ajay Kumar Lalotra, Mihir Gujral, Meenakshi Bhaghat, Shivam Singh, Goutam Sharma, Shivam Dutta, Aarti Devi.
The lights of the play were executed by Gautam Kumar and the sound was rendered by Bhisham Gupta. The show was coordinated by Mohd Yaseen.