Deft Bhojpuri touch to Munshi Premchand’s Kafan

Tribune News Service

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Patiala, September 1

Munshi Premchand’s famous play ‘Kafan’ was played by a Bhojpuri team at the Kalidasa Auditorium at the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) in the city on Saturday.

The event is being organised by the NZCC and will see presentation of eight different plays of the famous Indian writer of the 20th century known for his modern Hindi-Urdu literature over a week’s time till September 8.

Kanwaldeep Singh, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Income Tax Department, was the chief guest on the occasion. He was joined by Professor Saubhagya Vardhan, director, NZCC, Patiala.

The play presented a satire on life coined with strings of comedy and tragedy as the characters questioned various customs of society, including the ill-treatment to low class people, women and others.

With dialogues set in Bhojpuri, the audience managed to understand all parts of the play. 

The play began with the main characters, Ghisu and Madhav (playing father and son), sat silently by the side of the burnt door of their hut. Inside, the son’s wife, Budhiya, lay in labour.

The comic presentation of the theft scene left the audience in splits, while the moans and cries of the woman in labour swept silence in the auditorium.

Kanwaldeep Singh, DC, Income Tax, said the play was presented beautifully. “The satire on comedy and tragedy were blended well, while the actors questioned society’s norms.”

Saubhagya Vardhan, NZCC, director, said: “We have tried to bring teams from all parts of the country here. We will also present other plays and bring forward organisations that are working in the field for years. This includes Hindi and Punjabi plays.”

Reaching out to sublime 

Chandigarh: Epitomising the elegance of the Jaipur Gharana, the trio of Shabnam Nath, Devika Gandhi and Tarini Nath, all amateurs and foremost disciples of kathak guru Dr Shobha Koser, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, gave a sterling dance performance at Tagore Theatre here on Saturday. The programme, “Nrityanjali”, dedicated to Dr AS Anand, former Chief Justice of India, was organised by the Pracheen Kala Kendra. 

Special guests on the occasion were General VP Malik (retd), Justice SS Sodhi, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, and Justice TPS Mann. 

The programme had a serene start with Shabnam Nath presenting an invocatory dance composition, “Jai jai Mahishasura mardini”, dedicated to the Goddess Durga, bringing alive devotional, dreadful and formidable expressions while fighting demon Mahishasura.

With their guru Dr Shobha Koser, young danseuses Vedika and Tarini took the centre stage to delineate traditional kathak syllables like tode tukde, parans, all set to teen tal. Their synergy with nimble footwork won the applause. 

Pandit Keshav and Shubra Telegaonkar, both from Agra, provided the vocal support. Besides, Mehmood Khan and Amandeep Gupta on tabla,Vijay Sharma (sitar) and Praksh Nepali (flute) provided commendable support. 

The dancing trio won a standing ovation. 

Pracheen Kala Kendra secretary Sajal Koser expressed gratitude towards the audience and welcomed Justice Mahavir Sindhu and Justice RK Nagrath, who honoured the artistes.