‘Bhand Pather’ revival project launched
Our Correspondent
Srinagar, October 9
The ‘Bhand Pather’ revival project was inaugurated at the ICCR headquarters today. The event was organised by Natrang in collaboration with Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, and aimed to revive traditional music of Kashmir.
Natrang Director Balwant Thakur gave an overview of this unique initiative aimed at giving a new flip and ease of life to one of the most vibrant theatre tradition of Kashmir. “It is aimed at infusing fresh creative energy and concept of new playwriting by the production and performances of 20 new plays in Bhand Pather style. This is being done with an objective of reviving this great performing art tradition of Kashmir,” he said.
Earlier in 2011 and 2012, a similar kind of initiative was taken and over 40 new productions were produced and staged in Bhand Pather style involving over 1,000 traditional performers and the performances reached to lakhs of local audiences.
In his keynote address, eminent playwright and director Nissar Naseem stressed on the need of introducing new approaches of contemporary theatre practices. “There is a dire urgency to bring in new vibrancy in Bhand Pather by incorporating the contemporary themes to make this amazing theatre form more connected and close to the masses. It’s the high time to take new departures with the motive to make Bhand Pather one of the most celebrated and effective performing art form of Kashmir. The same can happen by experimenting with new developing techniques and making its content to represent the contemporary realities of Kashmir as well as of the world,” he said.
Dr Ayaz Rasool Nazki, Regional Director ICCR, Kashmir, said the practitioners of Bhand Pather to look beyond the old themes and reflect upon the common man’s sufferings through the powerful medium of theatre.
“Theatre, particularly traditional theatre, can be magical in educating the society. Bhand practitioners must lend a voice to common concerns,” he said.
