Three Days (25-27Nov.) National Theatre Festival "Alfaaz' organized by Natyansh Society of Dramatics and Performing Arts in collaboration with West Zone Cultural Centre concluded at Darpan,Shilpgram on Sunday evening. 'Alfaaz' was dedicated to womanhood as all the plays staged were centered on issues related to plight of Women.
Festival was inaugurated with the performance of short play "Aaj ki Paanchaali" staged by the students of Vidhya Bhavan Public School, Udaipur. This play was adjudged first in the Short Play Competition conducted during "Alfaaz celebrations at Vidhya Bhavan Society's Mohan Singh Mehta Memorial auditorium last Saturday. Young boys and girls related their theme with Mahabharat and exhibited the troubles of girls of today very effectively. The Second Best performance of the competitions namely 'Budhi Kaki' based on the story of Munshi Prem Chand staged by the students of GuruNaank Public School,Hiran Magari,Udaipur also impressed audience with high caliber acting. Pre decided play 'Lashkar Chowk' was replaced by a Mono Play 'Astitva' written and Directed by Amit Shrimali. Based on the issues relating to women this sensitive play was enacted by Rekha Sisodia who portrayed various roles with proficiency and could gather laughter and sympathy from audience who was deeply engrossed in the play. Lights by Shazor ali(Jaipur) and music by Mubin Khan helped play to create desired effects. Amit needs to edit the play adding contemporary issues and deleting less significant dialogues and scenes.
Originally Bengali play "Tomar Dake" scripted and directed by Suvojit Bandhopadhyay was staged in Hindi by Theatre Shine', West Bengal, on the Second evening. This was projected as experimental theatrical performance of modern age. It was a blending of age old social issues to the current issues. Main Characters of Gurudev Ravindranath Tagore's Plays like Achalaytan, Raktakarbi, Bisarjan, Muktidhara and Dakghar were portrayed exposing victimization of innocent common people. The story described the prejudices of Taliban in Pakistan. In the name of good governance people are being tortured, cheated and extorted. Women are worst affected by the religious terrorism. There is no change in scenario starting from the mythological age to the present age of Malala Yusufzai of Pakistan. They are still fighting for their right and justice. This action packed play had many entries and exits.
Entire stage, wings and even the main gate of auditorium were used by actors to show case different locations.
There was extensive use of colored cloths, Light effects, live music and stage crafts to create atmosphere of sorrow, agony, fear, anger, anxiety, sympathy. Actors displayed their talent in acting, singing and dancing. With high energy level they could convey the dilemma of women very effectively and appealed for Humanity, Justice and Peace.
Hard and sincere efforts of the Director were seen in the each composition. This young group showed high potency to become promising drama group of India.
"Agni Pariksha", a play by 'Parampara Natya Samiti', Jaipur had privilege to stage its 99th show in this festival. Performed in traditional Tamasha style of Jaipur, this play was written by Dr. Hariram
Acharya and directed by Dilip Bhatt belonging to Tamasha family of Shri Gopi ji Bhatt.
The story described the anguish of women since mythological age till now. 'Sati', daughter of Mighty King Daksh Prajapati and wife of Mahadev jumped into the sacred fire (Yagyan) in honor of her husband Lord Shiva. Sita wife of Lord Rama had also to undergo "Agni Pareeksha" to prove that she was sacred.
Rani Padmini of Chittorgarh and many other Rajput Ladies jumped in to "Johar flames" to honor their dignity. Even today women have to struggle for their respect. This play was in 'Tamasha' style known for its songs
composed in Hindustani Classical Ragas by Late Pandit Gopi ji Bhatt. The other significant aspects were Dances, Lyrical dialogues and rhythm. Since many actors were new, this play was on shoulders of Sutradhar whose character was enacted by Dilip Bhatt himself.
Another senior actor Sikandar Abbas did his job well despite his recent leg injury. This musical play was impressive at the same time had great scope for improvement.
Many spectators witnessed play in "Tamasha" style for the first time and enjoyed it. Natyansh deserves praise for inviting such plays from Kolkata and Jaipur. Thus the drama lovers get opportunity to know different styles and kinds of dramas. Theatre should not only entertain but it should also educate. Ashfaq Nur Khan Pathan, President of Natyansh informed that his team organized various activities like Street plays, Poetry Sessions, Online Photography Competition, Drawing competitions, documentary Screening and On the Spot Photography during "Alfaaz" to involve maximum youth and children in such cultural activities.
The programme was hosted by Abdul Mubin Khan and Prof. Arun Jain presented vote of thanks to all the collaborators and well wishers.
The Last week of November is dedicated to theatrical performances as after this National Drama Festival, WZCC and Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademy will organize 3 day Rajasthani Drama Festival from 28 to 30 November. It should be special treat to drama lovers of the Lake city.
