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#DelhiDiary: A theatrical treat of classics
Drama lovers in the city are in for a treat as Sheila Bharat Ram Theatre Festival returns. This year it has five stage plays. From the old-age sagas to the new age romance, the performances aim to take the audiences on a roller coaster of emotions.
As the curtains rise, those in the auditorium will be transported from reality into a realm of captivating performances. The captivating voices carry the weight of emotions and the movements of artistes weave tales that have stood the test of time to be known as classics namely Tughlaq, Agni Aur Barkha, Daaku Sultana, Mahabali and Prem Kabootar. These plays are being staged as part of the ongoing Sheila Bharat Ram Theatre Festival, in the Capital.
“The play, Tughlaq has been performed by our repertory since 2014 and is known to be a powerful interpretation of the script by Girish Karnad,” shares K Madavane, director, adding, “It’s a classic that looks at the whims and fancies of a ruler who was known as a genius for making erratic decisions that caused suffering to his people and his kingdom.”
An integral form of theatre, nautanki will be witnessed in the staging of Daaku Sultana. It’s director, Ramdayal Sharma says, “It’s the story of a dacoit who was known for robbing the rich and distributing the loot among the poor, like a local Robin Hood. But being nautanki, this performance is full of songs and dance while having a simple story line with lots of music.”
The play Agni aur Barkha directed by late KS Rajendran and Sameep Singh’s directorial Prem Kabootar will explore the themes of love and friendship whereas the play Mahabali aims to be yet another treat for drama lovers. “Tulsidas’s Rama in this play is a generous, caring and loving God who feels that Tulsidas is the real Mahabali since he never accepted offers of state power and the privileges,” shares thespian MK Raina.
Catch It Live
What: Sheila Bharat Ram Theatre Festival
Where: Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, 4, Safdar Hashmi Marg
When: June 15 to 19
Timing: 6.30pm
Nearest Metro Station: Mandi House on the Blue and Violet lines
Author tweets @maishascribbles
