‘Sukhdevpreet saw theatre as a tool for social change’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 11

The seventh edition of Sukhdevpreet Yaadgari Theatre festival concluded with rich tributes to the late playwright. The yearly commemorative festival featured critically acclaimed plays by noted playwrights like Balwant Gargi and others while emphasising on importance of the theatre as a tool for social change.

Sukhdevpreet’s brother and theatre person Manchpreet has another mission behind celebrating his late brother’s memory through theatre – that of putting the spotlight back on meaningful theatre. “Over the years, the efforts to popularise theatre somehow compromised on the quality of theatre being put across. Plays today are about showmanship, generally, are inclined towards comedy, assuming that they are an easy way to de-stress and get entertained. While the audience still perceives meaningful or issue-based theatre as heavy or overwhelming, we forget that theatre began as a tool for social change, became a platform for discussing and highlighting things usually pushed under the carpet,” says Manchpreet.

The festival staged plays based on the writings by Sukhdevpreet, “He wrote extensively about the time during terrorism in Punjab. The conditions prevailing, the political and social environment and its influence on youth. Till the time he was killed in 1991, his works reflect predominantly the social injustice and deep psychological repercussions of the time,” said Manchpreet.

Meanwhile, the festival had plays like “Court Marshal” by Swadesh Deepak, which were written with the intent of giving voice to a common man’s woes. “Loha Kut” by Balwant Gargi and “Eh Gallan Kdey fer Karangey” by Dr Swarajbir too were appreciated by the audience.