On the second day of the 6th Bhishm Sahani Memorial Theatre Festival, the Hindi play, Agni Barkha, was performed at Antarang Hall, Bharat Bhawan, in the city, on Wednesday.
Directed by Mohammad Nazeer Qureshi, the play was staged by the artistes of Karvaan Theatre Group, Bhopal. It is one of the famous plays written by Girish Karnad. The plot of the drama is a fascinating interplay of ancient myths recorded in Mahabharata. It revolves around characters like Pravasu, eldest son of sage Raibaya involved as head priest in seven-year-long yagna for rain and has even forsaken his wife Vishakha. The neglect felt by his father and cousin Yavakri adds new dimension to the story.
The play begins with a yagna being performed to impress lord Indra and protagonist of the play Pravasu, now a sage is living far away from his home in the forests. As he was returning from the forest, he falls for a girl Nittilai. After the mutual decision by panchayat they both were about to get married, but destiny had something else store for them.
On the wedding day, Pravasu's younger brother, Yavakri who is in love with a tribal girl calls Pravasu to meet him. As Pravasu visits Yavakri he is astonished to see that Pravasu's sister-in-law (brother's wife) is with Yavakri. Seeing this, Pravasu's father with the use of his magical power asks a demon to appear and kill Yavakri. With all these sequences happening at the other end, Pravasu was unable to get married to his love Nittilai and as a consequence panchayat takes another decision for her.
Presenting a well thought out production design along with elements of ingenious cultural tradition, the play has a classical setting and enlivens the well-crafted theatrical situations and moments.
Having the distinct stamp of a renowned and experienced playwright Nazeer Qureshi, it was marked by use of best theatrical features in terms of acting, light and, groupings with a unique mix of folk and classical, background music that emerged as impressive tools of the theatrical genre adapted for the play.