Jammu, May 21: ‘Ghar Band’- a play vibrated Natrang’s weekly theatre series ‘Sunday Theatre with lot of thought provoking messages aimed at the larger welfare of all. Written by Hamidullah, this play was ably directed by Neeraj Kant. Set at the morning affair of a family of four members, the play opens with a dramatic incident. Head of the family while moving out of his bed gets a shock when he finds that his calls are not being responded by either of the family members.
Surprised over their unusual behaviour he shouts at them but this aggression also yields nothing. Later when trying to dig out reasons, he comes to know that inspired by the usual strikes, Bands, lockouts and protests in the country, the rest of the family members are on strike against the head of the family, demanding the fulfilment of their respective demands. The lady of the house has locked the kitchen to pursue her long pending demands and the children are also not ready to go to school as they also desire to fulfill a long list of demands.
Here begins heated exchanges, arguments and counter arguments between the head of the family verses rest of the family members. Structuring a family conflict, the playwright in a very intelligent manner has exposed the system prompting these meaningless strikes and protests which are not only destroying the public property but have also pushed the country’s economic growth decades behind the developed nations. The lady of the house is seeking freedom for shopping and luxurious holidays without appreciating the economics of the house. In the similar fashion the children are demanding full freedom in studies, no accountability, no questions without realizing the fact that being accountable is the best way to lead in life and shineout in the world. Before this war of words in the family takes some ugly turn, the story takes a dramatic turn with the entry of the brother-in law of the head of the family who makes a surprise visit to know the welfare of his sister.
The entire heat fizzles out and lady of the house, driven by emotions forgets for being on strike and rushes to the kitchen to offer breakfast to her brother. When questioned by the head of the family for the scene they had created, they term it a mere theatre. On hearing this, the head of the family collapses in shock. Before all the neighbours throng their house hearing loud screaming and wailing, the head of the family gets up and says this was ‘counter theatre’ thus bursting all into laughter.
The head of the family was played by Brijesh Avtar Sharma with full theatrical energy. He was equally supported by Vrinda Sharma as wife in the entire stage action. The roles of children were played by Aman Kapoor and Akshit Kaul. Bhisham Gupta played the visiting brother-in -law. The lights of the play were done by Neeraj Kant.The presentations were done by Sachin Saini and the show was coordinated by Mohd. Yaseen.
