DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
Anantnag , Sept 14
Natrang staged three shows of its highly acclaimed play ‘Loktantra Ka Asli Mantra’ at Anantnag, Bijbehara and Kokernaag of Anantnag district (Kashmir). Written by Padamshree Balwant Thakur and directed by Neeraj Kant, these shows are sponsored by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K and were locally organised efficiently by the district Election Office, Anantnag. Aimed at making the larger population aware about their voting rights, Balwant Thakur has exclusively devised a highly motivational play using local idioms and forms. Interestingly wherever this play is performed, the actors are trained to use the local language in their effective narratives which makes a strong connection with the audiences and they (audience) also identifies with the characters being portrayed in this mind blowing play.
On the occasion Natrang Director Balwant Thakur thanked the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K for giving Natrang this amazing opportunity to use arts for a larger national cause. All the three shows in Anantnag received standing ovation and people were seen acknowledging the fact that this play has impacted them very effectively and have prompted the audience to become the ambassadors of this strong message. The play ‘Loktantra Ka Asli Mantra’ opens with the aggression of the disillusioned, frustrated youth who are struggling to survive in the contaminated air of corruption, scandals and dishonesty. They do not see any hope in the future as their present is being rotten by the corrupt system. They want to devastate everything around them in rage but when questioned by an educated person that ‘what are they doing to come out of this unfortunate situation?. Busy in their illusionary world created by the social media, they are speechless as they just want the things to happen but are not ready to be part of that change and want everything without making any required effort. Terming them as the most vibrant human resource of the world, the educated person prompts them to come forward, take the command and change their fate. The most effective way of changing the fate of a country is the way of voting, this is the highly peaceful and effective way to bring big reforms of their choices. As the play proceeds, different age groups and varied sections of people are shown in satirical manner who have their petty reasons to not vote and also whom to vote. This ignorance and arrogance of the masses leaves huge space for the vested interests to exploit this situation. Through this play all the sections of society are prompted not to run away from their ultimate responsibility of voting for the stronger democracy of India. Vote has the only and ultimate power to change the fate of the country and everyone through this play is motivated to ensure that this right of voting of every citizen should not go waste. Let’s pledge to vote!
The artists who participated in the play Loktantra Ka Asli Mantra included Neeraj Kant, Subash Jamwal, Mohd. Yaseen, Vrinda Gujral, Vishal Sharma, Palshin Dutta, Mihir Gujral, Ananya Verma, Aadesh Dhar, Kushal Bhat, Lalita Sharma, Kananpreet Kaur and Lal Mohd.
The music of the play was operated by Mohd. Yaseen & Palshin Dutta.
