Natrang’s Sunday Theatre Series Presents ‘Kharaashein’: Weaving Communal Harmony and Patriotism

Jammu 24-09-2023: A heart rendering performance of ‘Kharaashein’, a collage of Gulzar’s literary creations on riots was presented under the direction of Rahul Singh here today at Natrang in Natrang’s Sunday Theatre Series. The play ably infused a strong sense of communal harmony and huge patriotism. The production was appreciated for its creative design, artistic craft, imaginative lights, soulful music, and electrifying acting. The entire collective effort was visible in each moment of dramatic action being unfolded.

Three different stories on one common plot written by the celebrated poet and writer Gulzaar were presented.  The stories featured in the series included, ‘Ravi Paar’, ‘Hilsa’ and ‘Khuda Hafiz’. ‘Ravi Paar’ is the story of India at the time of partition. Religious fanatics of both sides showed no mercy on anyone who didn’t believed in their religion, after partition Darshan Singh and his family, takes shelter in a nearby Gurudwara. Amidst all the chaos ‘Shahni’ gives birth to twins but one of the twins born was very weak and had very bleak chances of survival. Meanwhile Darshan Singh gets the news of the arrival of a special train from India which has arrived to carry people to safer places. Darshan Singh reaches the station in a rush only to find out the train was extremely overcrowded, somehow he finds some space for himself and his family on the roof of the train. After the night falls and the train leaves the Station Darshan Singh notices that one of the kids was no longer moving and was cold, realizing that the kid was dead. As the train passed over the river Ravi, someone whispered in Darshan Singh’s ear that he should toss the dead kid into the river. Feeling helpless he quietly takes the kid away from ‘Shahni’ and tosses him into the river. While throwing the child he hears the cries and shockingly turns only to  ‘Shahni’  and finds her still embracing the dead kid. The second story ‘Hilsa’ opens at the home of a Bengali couple where ‘Kanchan’ is cleaning fish which they have to consume in lunch, ‘Bhibhuti’, her husband returns back from the market empty handed as he could not get the newspaper because of the riots. Somehow the paper also reaches their home, which was all filled with the news and pictures of gory incidents of riots. In a heart rendering story of a girl who was raped then died at the tender stage when she was pregnant. The writer has very subtly and beautifully related the pain of the girl with that of that ‘Hilsa’ fish who was caught when it was pregnant. In the Third story ‘Khuda Hafiz’, is about two panic stricken riot victims taking shelter in a dilapidated place. Being unknown to each other creates the initial hitch but the common terror helps them eventually to nurture friendship amongst them.

Natrang actors who gave splendid performances in the play included Brijesh Avtar Sharma, Sumit Bandaral, Amit Brahmi, Sheryaar Salaria, Vandana Thakur. The lights of the play were operated by Aadesh Dhar whereas the music was rendered by Chirag Anand. The presentations were done by Shivam Singh.