Natrang stages ‘Suno Tagore Di’ play at Katra

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, May 18: The fifth show of the series of Natrang’s mega theatre Dogri production ‘Suno Tagore Di’ written and directed by Balwant Thakur was staged here today in collaboration with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Sheetal Nanda, District Development Commissioner, Reasi, was the chief guest, who appreciated Natrang efforts in using theatre for a larger welfare of the mankind. Natrang is presenting a series of ten shows of the play ‘Suno Tagore Di’ to commemorate the 150 years of Guru Rabindanath Tagore with the support of Ministry of Culture Government of India and Ministry of Tourism and Culture J&K Government, in all the districts of Jammu Province. Earlier shows were held at Ramban, Kishtwar, Doda and Jammu.
Inspired by the great writings of Guru Rabindranath Tagore on women a mega Dogri theatre production has been evolved by Natrang in which…..”GUDDI” central character of this play represents the major section of rural lower middle class adolescent young girls who is forced into matrimony at a very tender age. Guddi represents the most of the characters portrayed by Tagore in his prose, short stories, poetry and dramas. As a protagonist, Guddi is fully prepared to fight it out and is aware of the strains of early marriage, as it has taken its toll in untimely death of her mother. She wants to grow and get educated before she takes up the responsibility of married life. The play highlights the plight of young girls who are sacrificed at the altar of rotten, redundant customs of illiterate and ignorant sections of our society.
Tagore spoke of the need to reform the society and as far as women were concerned he repeatedly asserted the need of the extension of women’s role beyond the confines of domestic sphere, influencing the society at large. Tagore’s exhortation always resulted in the demands of the fairer sex emerging from society’s shadows, to impart wisdom and claim their rightful share in power.
A team of over thirty senior actors of Natrang vibrated the auditorium of SMVD with their electrifying performance. Those who excelled in their performance included Suresh Kumar, Anil Tickoo, Sanjeev Gupta, Neeraj Kant, Dimple Sharma, Rahul Singh, Tajasvi Sharma, Mohd. Yaseen, Balwinder Singh, Sushil Raina, Stanzin Paldan, Sunil Sharma, Sushil Raina, Vinay Manhas, Atin Tikka, Sakshi Prakash, Vishal Sharma, Ashwani Bali and Shivika Verma.
The light and sound was looked after by Shummy Kalotra, Ashu Kalotra, Rahul Bhat and Karan Kumar.