Jammu 11-05-2025: Keeping the theatre spirit alive and endorsing the belief ‘Show must go On’, Natrang amid tensions staged a hard hitting political satire ‘Topian’ written by Mani Madhukar and directed by Neeraj Kant here at Natrang studio theatre. It is pertinent to mention that Natrang is performing non stop theatre every Sunday since last 22 years which is a record in the country.
Most appropriate and timely presentation on the contemporary political scene of the country, the play is a dig on the lusty politicians who can change colors faster than a chameleon just to ensure that they remain in power. For them, the mission is to befool the public, and for that they have the requisite theatrical art, know-how, expertise and the excellence to transform themselves to any color or attire as per the situation and the requirement. Human civilization has witnessed a lot of social and political revolutions, each time thinkers and philosophers have sold new political thoughts and doctrine of governance. But ironically, the same faces have made their way to power just by hiding real faces in new masks. They have been changing the color of their caps and not their mindset.
In the backdrop of the story of two neighbors who pledge to change the political scene are shown looking for alternatives. Each time they come across a person they meet only those wearing different caps and attire, offering them a variety of manifestos. Each time they identify him as a different person and expect a different ideology from him. This way they succumb to his tactics. Over time when they find that nothing is changing, the slogans of socialism are furthering the divide between rich and poor, quality of life is deteriorating day by day and the security of life and property is at the mercy of God. Both muster courage and strip the person selling those dreams. Surprisingly, inside clothes, they find that he is the same person and he used to come to them in different attire every time.