Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Nov 30: Written one and a half decades before by late Kirpal Singh Kasali, the Punjabi play ‘Nachangi Sari Raat’, while critiquing the changing cultural perspective on the respect and care of elders by family members, urged the senior citizens to not to feel lonely and alienated but to add zing to life.
Directed by Javed Gill, and staged by J&K Bhoomi Human Welfare Society, the play’s plot revolved around two elders: Dadi and Dada, who are feeling lonely and alienated due to changed attitude of their family members who unmindful of their feelings and little desires either take them as liabilities or treat them as a handyperson for domestic chores. When the two elders meet in a park and find similarity in their lives, they develop an attraction for each other. In the end, much to the shock and surprise of their families, both leave together for a pilgrimage.
Javed Gil as Dada ji and Neha Raina as Dadi won the hearts of the audience with their admirable portrayal of the senior citizens by maintaining consistency in body language, gait, and voice control. But it was the subtle transformation of both characters from emotions of despair to that of hope and happiness portrayed beautifully in live singing by the duo that was appreciated by the audience. Notwithstanding the slow pace, today’s performance came out to be an entertaining affair.
Other members of the cast who also performed well were Sandhya as Pooja, Komal Mehra as Tina, Shiv Gautam as DSP Kakkar, Ajit as Munna, Gagandeep Singh and Sunil Mehra as Person I & 2. Make-up was by Shammi Dhamir, set by Abdul Razak/Shoket Ali, music by Reshab Prabhakar and singer Javed Gill.
Next play of the ongoing Annual Theater festival, ‘Oedipus’, will be staged by Punjabi Lekhak Sabha on December 2, 2018.
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