JAMMU: Minister for Higher Education, Labour and employment, Mr Abdul Gani Malik has said that theatre plays an immense role in highlighting the social problems confronting people and State government is committed to encourage art and culture by providing all required facilities to the institutions of Drama and fine Art besides budding artists of the State.
The Minister was addressing an impressive function after inaugurating Dogri play “Shah Shahni†at Abhinav Theatre this evening.
Director Information, Khawja Farooq Ranzushah was the guest of honour on the occasion.
The play was written by Rajnesh Gupta and directed by Mr. Akram Khan and Rajesh Raina with the financial support of Union Ministry of Culture.
Appreciating the Sangam Theatre Group Reasi for presenting the play, Mr. Malik said that the theme of love and peace is need of the hour adding that nations can be divided but love in the hearts of people can never be divided, no matter if boundary lines were drawn.
Mr. Malik said that Sangam Theatre Group is a leading theatre group of Reasi, engaged with missionary zeal for the promotion of theatre in the State.
Director Information, Kh. Farooq Renzushah in his speech said that the partition was tragedy for those families whose kiths and kins were divided and their sufferings cannot be counted.
Speaking high of the management of the Sangam Theatre Group, Renzushah said that the efforts made in staging this play is commendable as it depicts the picture of a person namely ‘Shah’ who went to Pakistan after partition in 1947 and later he visits back India after 60 years since he was craving to see his locality where he lived once, he met his friend ‘ Shahni’ who has turned old now.
The play leaves a strong message on the minds of audience that love still prevails in the hearts of people even after the division of India giving birth to a new country Pakistan.
Those who performed in the play included Dr. Chanchal Sharma as Shahni, J.R. Sagar as Shah, Rajesh Raina as Gaara, Kanta Sharma as Chanchlo, Sanjay Sharma as Kasturi ( Halwai) and Lucky Gupta as Admi.
The function was among others attended by President CTA, Prof Avinash Gupta, Prof Bhan and a renowned artist, Ms Kanta Sharma. (KMW News)
