Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: Theatre group ‘Natrang’ today staged Dogri play ‘Ghumayee’ in a programme titled as ‘Shreshtha Bharat’ organized by Sangeet Natak Akademi in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
A handout stated that it was a historic occasion that the internationally acclaimed Dogri play ‘Ghumayee’, Written and Directed by Balwant Thakur, was staged in Tamil Nadu.
The play is based on Dogri Folk Tale of a hilly village and opens with a ‘Vidai’ scene after the marriage with bride being carried in a ‘Doli’ to her in-law’s place.
As the tough climb begins, thirsty ‘Dulhan’ asks for water. Her request is laughed away and no heed is paid. As the track becomes strenuous, her thirst intensifies and repeated entreaties end up in assurance of water at next available source. A stage is reached when thirst becomes unbearable and the journey is put to halt.
All were requested to do the needful and arrange water.
Repeated requests of bridegroom fail to evoke any response, as the job requires superhuman effort because the water was available at a remote spot with very hard terrain.
The plight of ‘Dulhan’ prompts a young man to volunteer for the job. All present there warn him of the probable consequences but he is undeterred while the groom in an insolent tone bets away his bride in lieu of water.
Thus begins the struggle for water. The young man, putting his life in extreme danger, overcomes all hurdles and ultimately succeeds in bringing the water. As bride quenches her thirst, the young man falls dead, out of sheer exhaustion.
In stunned atmosphere, ‘Baraties’ decide to continue with the journey but ‘Dulhan’ refuses to do so. She declares herself a widow and cries out a wail (Ghumayee) sanctifying the significance of human relationship over the most prized relationship of marriage bound by mere rituals.
Artists who performed in the play were Vikrant Sharma, Anil Tickoo, Neeraj Kant, Subash Jamwal, Suresh Kumar, Mahikshit Singh, Gauri Thakur, Sushant Singh, Vrinda Sharma, Meenakshi Bhagat, Shivam Singh, Sumit Raina, Abhinav Sharma, Manoj Lalotra and the music was composed by Suraj Singh.
Lights were designed and executed by Suraj Ganjoo. The audiography was designed and executed by Mohd. Yaseen.
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