Natrang’s International Theatre Talk Show
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 18: Natrang’s International Theatre Talk Show featured a senior theatre practitioner from Kashmir, Ayash Arif live on its Facebook Page today.
A persistent art activist, Ayash has reverberated the cultural scenario of Kashmir with his consistent endeavours.
Director Natrang, Padmashri Balwant Thakur gladly stated that this talk show is receiving accolades from across the globe and people make it sure to attend it as it offers knowledge and intellect from the best in the field.
Introducing Ayash Arif, Natrang’s actor Pankush Verma informed that Ayash is a veteran theatre practitioner of Kashmir valley who is very much active into theatre since last 40 years.
Narrating his considerable journey in theatre, Ayash considers himself fortunate to be benevolently surrounded by many art luminaries since childhood. Though he was an introvert child, yet he had a defined sensation of his artistic sensibilities.
He evidently recounts that whatever he has learned, he has learned by doing it and theatre is an institution for him. Dedication, perseverance and relentless efforts proved useful tools for him in this journey.
Ayash asserts that a movement of theatre, which was at smooth flow got disrupted in 80s because of circumstances. To revive the same, he along with like minded enthusiasts, started doing comedy theatre festivals with a vision to bring smiles on the faces of people and to create a taste/space for art activities.
Serious and grave concerns/issues were deliberately left untouched so that the society, which was already wounded, should not get repelled from it. An ardent dramatist, Ayash considers theatre to be the mirror of society and considers his responsibility to raise the social issues for the betterment of people. He believes that if culture is appropriately prioritized both by the government and people and it will definitely yield wonderful outcomes.
With the mission of the revival of theatre in Kashmir, Ayash had to start and restart many movements time and again. He proudly asserts that we have tremendous material to show to the world and our folk theatre carries a very rich legacy. He endeavours to contemporize the folk content and take it to rural areas in folk forms so that it is easily grasped by the masses.
He expressed his concern over the fact that the new generation of the families of folk performers is getting disillusioned from art and we need to rekindle their interest in it by supporting/patronizing them so that this legacy is preserved for the coming generations.
Those who are coordinating this mega online event include Anil Tickoo, Neeraj Kant, Suresh Kumar, Sanjeev Gupta, Vikrant Sharma, Sumeet Sharma, Aarushi Thakur Rana, Mohammad Yaseen, Gauri Thakur, Rahul Singh and Vrinda Sharma.
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