Punjabi Theatre Festival

New Delhi, Prembabu Sharma 

 ‘Khadd’ by eminent dramatist Pali Bhupinder Singh. The colourful ambience and artistic props were well appreciated by one and all.

The five-day Punjabi Theatre Festival, being held at Sri Ram Centre for Art & Culture, is being organized by Punjabi Academy in association with Department of Art, Culture, and Languages, Government of Delhi. Plays by renowned dramatists including Dr Atamjit, Punjabi Theatre festival today kicked off in the capital with the famous Punjabi play Kewal Dhaliwal, Dr Charan Das Siddhu, and Ravi Taneja will be staged during the festival.

Pali Bhupinder Singh is a known name in the modern era of Punjabi theatre. He belongs to those committed activists who have been working hard not only to keep pace with the existing norms in the art and craft of theatre but are constantly striving to introduce fresh audiences into the nuances of modern theatre.

In Khadd, Pali has tried to portrait the inner-character of a man in relationship to his social character. The play focused on those people who, due to religious conviction or decorum, have determined to live an unmarried (Brahmchari) life. They confine themselves in a crypt (Bhora) to avoid any confrontation with female. Thus this play is a conflict between 'Bhog' and 'Jog'. There is one significant question posed by this play – by imprisoning themselves in a crypt, do they escape from sex and its desire?

  According to Mr. Rawail Singh, Secretary, Punjabi Academy, “Khadd, is one among the modern Punjabi plays which utilized the potential theatre to convey strong social messages. Pali Bhupinder staged modern sensibilities and ethos in his plays by discovering and discussing all layers of human behavior scholarly and theatrically. This play gives remarkable beginning to this fest. By organizing such an event Punjabi Academy intended to provide impetus to the flourishing Punjabi theatre scene.”

Speaking on the occasion Pali Bhupinder Singh said, “We are very happy to perform on a stage like this here in the capital. The response we received today was really encouraging. The audience turnover shows that people are still interested in art forms like drama and they are finding time from their busy schedule to watch them. I am very thankful to Punjabi academy for organizing such an event and choosing our play. I believe that these kinds of opportunities can lift Punjabi Theatre to new heights. 

 Drishti Daan, play based on Rabindranath Tagore’s story, will be shown tomorrow. Kewal Dhaliwal is the director of the play. The story of the play deals with the pathos and wishes of a blind girl, nicknamed as Kumu.