DH NEWS SERVICE
jammu, Jan 12
Natrang’s most sought after Winter Theatre Workshop for children culminated here today with a vibrant performance of Habib Tanveer’s ‘Parampara’ at the auditorium of the Government College for Women Parade, Jammu which collaborated this rare showcasing. The play was directed by Neeraj Kant and was assisted by Kanan Kaur. Mohd. Yaseen coordinated the workshop. Earlier welcoming the gathering the Director of Natrang Padamshree Balwant Thakur dwelt in detail about Natrang’s unique initiative of popularizing theatre amongst children. Terming theatre as one of the most effective, tried and tested medium of personality exploration and development, Balwant Thakur cited many examples of magical changes which he witnessed amongst children during his last Thirty-six years of work with Children. Majority of Natrang products are now either top actors in the Tinsel Town or holding prominent positions in professional spheres, civil services and corporate world.
“Theatre should not be seen as an art of making faces but it’s amazing power has the unlimited potential to transform personalities” Balwant Thakur added.
The play ‘Parampara’ opens with two children lamenting their lack of followers on social media. Desperate for attention, they beg the audience to follow them and enthusiastically perform a reel dance. Encouraged by another child boasting 5 lakh followers, they attempt to replicate the trend by dancing to a new song. However, their energetic display is interrupted by Nati, who questions their awareness of their own culture and literature. Nati urges them to look beyond these social media trends and explore the rich heritage of Indian culture and history. Inspired by this, the children resolve to stage a play on India’s history.
The play “Parampara” presents a vibrant retelling of Indian history through a series of key events and characters. It begins with a humorous debate between the narrators and actresses about the play’s theme, ultimately settling on the name “Viraasat.”
The story unfolds with the arrival of Aryans and the symbolic union of Bharat Mata and Arya, followed by pivotal episodes like Lord Ram’s exile, Arjun’s moral dilemma in the Mahabharata, and Emperor Ashoka’s transformation after the Kalinga War.
As the narrative progresses, it touches upon India’s rich cultural heritage, from Bharata Muni’s “Natyashastra” to Kalidasa’s literature. However, the play also delves into the complexities of Indian history, portraying the arrival of the British, the struggles for independence led by Mahatma Gandhi and the painful partition that led to the creation of Pakistan.
Through the allegory of children representing future generations, the play emphasises unity and the shared heritage of India and Pakistan. It concludes with a call for harmony, with Bharat Mata and Arya vowing to stand by both nations. “Parampara” is a compelling blend of history, culture and a message of peace.
Those who acted in the play included Aarna Gaur, Adira Gupta, Advik Sharma, Amayra Mahajan, Anuvi Sharma, Araiya Shan, Daiwik Shan, Deeher Gupta, Deshna Jain, Dhanak Chandan, Dwijesh Dutta, Jayaditya Singh, Kamakhya Bali, Kavish Sharma, Kavya Jandial, Mehak Chib, Mrigasya Shan, Nandita Mahajan, Nyra Gandotra, Priyal Gupta, Ruhaan Chandan, Saanchi Dutta, Sianet Magotra, Supria Gorka, Tapas Shikhar Midtada, Vaibhav Mahajan and Daivansh Singh Rakwal. The music of the play was scored by Kartik Kumar and the show was ably conducted by Sumeet Sharma.
