State artiste vows to change mindset of youth

Vikram Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 14

Kajal Suri, a recipient of the 10th National Women Excellence Award-2017 from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has expressed her desire to promote drama, literature and art of the state at the national level.

Presently, working as senior programme executive at the All India Radio (AIR), Delhi, Kajal Suri (45) is designing and directing a Hindi play, ‘Kaaya’, of a local playwright to be produced at Shri Ram Centre in New Delhi. Kajal said J&K abounds in talent in various fields and its youth need a national platform to exhibit their talent.

“Militancy, separatism and unemployment in J&K has ruined generations that has led to the development of a particular mindset in the Valley, which is harming the talent of the local population,” said Kajal while talking to The Tribune from Delhi.

Also, a recipient of the Greenfly Excellence Award-2017 in drama and voice, Kajal intends to bring her theatre performances in J&K to connect the youth of the state with art and culture.

“Art soothes and brings change in perspective and ideology. The youth need to be brought under its ambit where they can be subjected to different aspects, including the way of life,” Kajal added.

Born to a Kashmiri mother and Dogra father, Kajal took to theatre at a tender age and was completely supported by her family. Her father late Vijay Suri, a renowned theatre and film artiste of the state, was her mentor.

She is the only woman artiste from J&K to have bagged seven ‘best female state academy awards’ before moving to Delhi.

Kajal, who is also a guest faculty at Sri Ram Centre, New Delhi, for voice diction and modulation in direction, is also a recipient of Sur Aradhana and Aakaash Wani Award from the AIR and is on the selection panel of the Department of Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Milia Islamia University, for conducting interviews of aspirants seeking admission to the university.