Anantnag: Natrang’s mission revival Band Pather Monday reached Anantnag and staged two new plays Chaandav written by Gul Mohipori, directed by Muzzafar Ahmed and Maholech Zankari written and directed by Bashir Ahmed at Louripora, Ashmuqam and Nagam, Kokernaag respectively.
With the support of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Natrang has initiated a massive project involving over one thousand traditional performances who have been trained under Padamshree Balwant Thakur to revolutionize the age old performing tradition of Kashmir.
Twenty new productions by twenty different groups are being staged in different parts of Kashmir valley. The shows were coordinated by three National Awardees in performing arts viz. Mohd. Yaseen( National Scholarship in Traditional Theatre), Manzoor-Ul-Haq (Yuva Bismillah Khan Award for Sufiana Kalam) and Shah-E-Jahan Ahmed Bhagat (Yuva Bismillah Khan Award for Bhand Pather).
Today’s first play Chaandav presented by Alamdaar Bhagat Theatre expressed a grave concern involving Kashmir identity. In the name of modernity people are distancing from their language and culture and are copying and imitating a new culture which is alien to them. This changed life style is not only a threat to the very cultural identity of Kashmir but has also invited lot of miseries. The play showcased a family in which the elderly are firm about their values and have all respect for their cultural belonging. But their younger members of the family have no respect for the language and culture. Ironically in the race of being modern, they have neither been able to achieve either. One hand they have become rootless creatures and on the other they are also failing to keep pace with the so called modernity. This cultural conflict has been a contributor to the present mess in the social fabric. Respect for elders is missing, material thrust is growing day by day and in this process the real values of Kashmiris are being lost. This highly educative play has left a lasting imprint on the minds of the audiences and they will certainly respond positively to this appeal of Bhand Pather performers. The artists who participated in the play included Gul Mohipuri, Muzaffar Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ghulam Nabi, Firdous Ahmed, Ghulam Qadir, Farooq Ahmed, Abdul Rashid, Mohd. Iqbal, Khalid Umer, Abdul Ghani, Ghulam Nabi, Ghulam Hassan Sakshaz, Mohd. Shabaan, Aashiq Hussain, Abdul Ghani and Ghulam Hassan.
Todays second play Maholech Zankari was presented by Kashmir Bhagat Theatre. The versatility of the group which is considered to be one of the pioneering Bhand groups of Kashmir was visible in all its departments right from content to presentation. Advocating diversity the story of the play was woven around the communal tensions this country is facing. Aimed at increasing awareness of multi and interfaith, the play beautifully appealed to encourage racial and religious tolerance. The progress of a community requires the contribution of each individual. In an atmosphere of communal tensions and social divides, progress and unity suffers the most. This is an enormous challenge for the world. Close-knit communities are divided on the basis of faith, social strata, landlords and farmers, family feuds and social misunderstanding. Through various musical rendering and dramatic acts, this play proved to the ultimate celebration of the co-existence of the human values which believe in the plurality of its character. The entire stage action in a very symbolic manner celebrated the diversity of this region and in totality presented the bouquet of its multi colours. The artists who participated in the play included Ghulam Rasool, Bashir Ahmed, Ghulam Ahmed, Ghulam Mohd, Bashir Ahmed Shah, Manzoor-ul-Islam, Mohd, Iqbal, Ghulam Nabi, Sohail Ahmed Shah, Javed Ahmed, Mukhtyaar Ahmed, Latif Ahmed, Qaiser Ahmed and Lasi Mohammad.
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