Month-long production oriented Theatre Workshop concludes at Kalagram with enactment of ‘Kesar Ganga’
CHANDIGARH, October 8
A month-long production oriented Theatre Workshop organized by the North Zone Culture Centre (NZCC), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, concluded here at Kalagram, Manimajra (Chandigarh) on Sunday evening (Oct 8) with the enactment of an acclaimed play ‘Kesar-Ganga’ to a packed-like-sardines open air theatre.
The workshop was dedicated to the preservation and promotion of various genres of Bhartiya art and culture, currently under threat due to lack of care and upkeep.
Giving sidelights of the month-long workshop, Dr Gurtej Singh, a renowned theatre guru, who conducted the workshop, informed that as many as many as 50 participants initially got themselves registered for the workshop, out of which only 25, between the age group of 12 and 55 years, could make it to the final list.
He added that during the period, theatre enthusiasts in the first segment learnt the subtle nuances of various genres of art, theatre to be precise, including basics of acting, voice modulation, flawless dialogue delivery, body language, theatre make-up with special thrust on script reading and rehearsal et al. He added that the workshop was split in two segments – morning and evening. The idea behind holding this theme workshop was to connect Gen Next to the finest traditions of Bhartiya art and culture, the warp-n-woof of our ethos.
In the last segment, the enthusiasts were trained to as how to conduct themselves on the stage while pulling off a character, which, he said, was the most significant part of the theatre activity.
The workshop ended with the enactment of the play ‘Kesar Ganga’, written and directed by Dr Gurtej Singh. The story revolves round a young girl, Ganga, an accomplished danseuse and Kesar, her guru. The story dates back to the times when performing arts in public spaces were considered a social taboo for girls. A determined Ganga breaks the glass ceiling and earns name and fame as a performer. Her infatuation for the saint for all good reasons infuriates the village head, who decides to teach her a lesson. He even rapes her with the help of his henchmen. Blaming Kesar upfront for the turn of event, the village head instigates others to kill him for his rumoured affairs with Ganga. The story hits a tragic end, which left the audience’s eyes moist.
Mr Naveen Anshuman Head, North Zone SANSKAR BHARTI, a national level cultural organisation dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Bhartiya art and culture, who was the Chief Guest on the closing ceremony, was all praise for the organisers for offering opportunities to the young and upcoming theatre icons. He patted the participant for evincing their keenness in the traditional folk theatre and other genres of art of the country.
Shri M. Furqan Khan, Director, NZCC on the occasion said “The NZCC has been playing a significant role in the preservation and promotion of the performing and other art forms of the country, as also offering space for the upcoming art enthusiasts to learn and showcase their innate talent.”
