Lait Gupta
JAMMU, Mar 26: In contrast to popular celluloid treatment of some of plays already presented, today’s penultimate production of Hindustani play ‘Padaav’ in ongoing annual drama festival, was conspicuous for original script idea that was complimented with equally innovative play design.
Written, designed and directed by Vikram Sharma, ‘Padaav’ is third in series of the plays written by him that critique man-women relations from both male and female points of view and vice versa. His other plays as a playwright being ‘Haqiqat, Hadsa’ and ‘Poornaviram’.
The plot of the play revolves around a girl who often frequents a wayside restaurant ‘The Sojourn’. Attended by a waiter Nandu, she is waiting for her friend who after arriving, being preoccupied with other female, leaves after making an excuse. Thus leaving her to reflect upon the world and the so-called sacred relationships of well known past mythological characters. The parallel journey through possible facets of feminine integrity makes her to disintegrate into myriad personalities.
In diamatic sequences from her present station to past; being a wife, to a lover and as a self desirous of her own identity, she undergoes through various shades of life. The climax of the play, in fact emerges as a counter—climax. As instead of opting for suicide, she chooses to open a new front to face the truth of life.
Neha Lakhotra as women and Himanshu Darshan as man in multiple roles gave an impressive display of acting skills. Complimenting each other, they were able to render individuality to each set of characters through variety in body gestures, movements and speech style, tone and pitch and appropriate costumes.
The intelligent use of space, enhanced by figurative sets, fluid groupings of the chorus, and befitting light design were other highlights that gradually helped the audience to get involved into the otherwise serious and philosophical subject. Though the constant playing of the background score was at times distracting as well as heavy on the ears.
Other members of the cast were Ashish Zadoo as Nandu, Prithvi Sharma, Puneet Gupta, Pooja Raina, Satish Bhat, and Farhan Ahmed—Chorus. Backstage team included Aditaya Bhanu on lights and Shalini Sharma, costumes.
Tomorrow, ‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’ in Dogri, by Samooh Theatre Group under direction of Ravinder Sharma is going to be presented as last production of ongoing annual drama festival being organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
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