Cast of play ‘Barff’ comes calling

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, April 8

“Barff makes one realise the importance of understanding beliefs of others,” said Saurabh Shukla, who was in the city to stage the play. The show was organised by Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam.

Shukla said, “The play is about realising that a point of view can be different from yours and making one accept it.” He said the play was initially written to be produced as a film. It was not possible to make it in into a movie due to financial contingency, he added.

He said, “The play has a certain cinematic quality and many people in the audience have also noticed this.” ‘Barff’ is the second play written by Shukla.

The play is set in Kashmir, where Ghulam Rasool, a taxi driver finds it hard to get a tourist because of a recent bomb blast. When Sidharth Kaul, a doctor goes to Srinagar for a medical meet, Rasool wants to show the doctor around. In the middle of this, Rasool’s wife Nafisa repeatedly calls him to tell that their child is not well and had been crying.

Kaul says that being a doctor, he can go and see the child, but Rasool demurs. But, the doctor insists after repeated calls. After two hours drive they reach a remote village. Soon, the doctor realises that they are the only two people living in the place as it is a ghost village, which has been abandoned after a battle in the area.

When the doctor goes to see the child it turns out that it is not a child but a doll. But, Nafisa steadfastly believes that it is her child.

“So, one incident after another unfolds, which helps in making the audience realise that what people believe as reality can be different for everyone,” says Shukla, who acts as a doctor in the play.

Sunil Palwal plays the role of Rasool, whereas Sadiya Sidiqqui acts as Nafisa. Sunil said he got the role in film ‘Jolly LLB’ because of the play.

Sadiya has been dividing her time and career equally amongst films, theatre and television. She said for her films and theatre were more intellectually engaging than television despite making of many good TV serials these days.

Shukla and Sadiya said they had performed in the city on earlier occasions too.