Jammu 11-06-2023: Natrang presented a scintillating performance of the play ‘Teen Apaahij’ in Hindi, written by Vipin Kumar Aggarwal under the direction of Neeraj Kant. Speaking on the occasion Director Natrang Padmashree Balwant Thakur said that such intellectual plays written by the top writers of the country carry immense value both for the performers as well as the spectators. Its performance and viewing should be encouraged by all means to create a healthy literary and cultural environment in the city. We choose such challenging creative writings aimed at raising the intellectual levels of both the performers and the audience. The play was assisted by Sushane Dulloo and Vanshika Pandoh.
The play ‘Teen Apaahij’ is set at a crossroads, three characters Kallu, Khallu, and Gallu are shown sitting under a lamp post doing nothing and just passing comments and judgments on everything. In a highly symbolic manner, the playwright has tried to expose the aimless and directionless system be it political, social, or spiritual. This sickening system has rendered the youth of this country not only helpless but also turned them handicapped. The infection of sadistic corruption has entered into our thoughts and this poison will never allow any new thought, revolution and initiative to take birth in our minds. The three characters in the play communicate with each other in an incoherent manner and nothing matters to the audience. Yet, they constantly have the feeling that there is something to what is happening around us. The meaning of freedom, the meaningless speeches of the leaders, Indianness, our country, language, and class, all are debated and it seems to be aimless even though everything is necessary. Passivity, meaninglessness, confusion, fatigue, etc. of a large section of society are pushing this society and the country toward collective disability. In fact, the author wants to show that in the process of becoming modern, society today is forgetting its human nature and has reached the era of complete disability.
Natrang experimented with this production with new generation of actors being freshers, three characters were excellently played by Vishal Sharma, Abhimanyu Choudhary, and Sumit Bandral. They were supported by Sheryar Salaria as Drumbeater and Kushal Bhat as Cyclewala. The lights of the play were designed and executed by Neeraj Kant whereas the sound was scored by Aadesh Dhar. The show was coordinated by Mohd. Yaseen and the presentations were done by Mahikshit Singh.