The theatre once was inseparably part with the people of Doon valley but the fast paced modern life style has taken its toll on it as the new generation is drifting away from this unique art form.
On the occasion of World Theatre Day which is celebrated every year on March 27, the old timers of theatre became nostalgic and shared the good old days when theatre was part and parcel of life.
Veteran theatre artist and director of many plays Jyotish Ghildiyal told The Pioneer that 70s and 80s were the golden period of theatre in Doon when general public used to keenly follow the theatre; it was in this period that many played of the city also got national acclaim. The theatre groups like Kala Manch, Rag Rang, Vatayan, Doon Ghati Rang Manch, Abhirang and Meghdoot were some of the leading luminaries of the theatre in the city.
Maletha Ki Kool directed by Ghildiyal in the year 1979 became very popular and more than fifty shows of this musical ballad were organised in different parts of the country. The ballad depicted the life and supreme sacrifice made by Madho Singh Bhandari who cut the throat of his only son to please the Devi Durga who demanded this sacrifice from Bhandari when the water did not flowed in the channel dug by him for the people of parched Maletha village.
The role of Madho Singh was brilliantly played by Roshan Dhasmana. Andhere Ka Beta was another play which was very popular among the theatre lovers of the country in this period. The play directed by Shiv lal Joshi of Kala Manch gave a melodramatic representation of the family of an army officer. The old timers fondly remember the play — Thank you Mr. Glad — when the entire building of the Ranger’s college near Parade ground was converted into a huge stage. A colossus screen was placed near the college gate and the entire veranda of the building was made jail barrack.
The play which was watched by more than 3500 people showed the character of a revolutionary Vir Bhushan Patnayak who changed the heart of a cruel jailor.This Anglo Indian Jailor despised the humans as his wife was killed in the dreaded gas chambers of Hitler. In the emotion filled last scene of the play the jailor refused to obey the hanging orders of Patnayak as he thought it was not a dignified way of treating a person like Patnayak; he instead shot the revolutionary before ending his own life.
Ghildiyal said that theatre needs patience and long hours of practice which today’s youth are lacking. He said advent of TV also caused trouble for the theatre as the artists left it for greener pastures there. The veteran theatre artist said though many theatre groups have propped up in the city now, they are not producing quality plays.
Roshan Dhasmana said theatre should be linked with employment in the modern times; he also rued the lack of a modern auditorium in the city. Dhasmana said that the government should promote theatre and an institute on the lines of National School of Drama (NSD) should be opened in the state. Balraj Negi another prominent theatre and film personality echoed the sentiments of Dhasmana but he also added that new experiments are being done in the modern theatre like incorporation of folk songs and dances in the plays.
Famous theatre personality of the city and a veteran of many plays Abhinanda told this correspondent that theatre in the city has not became weak in modern times and many good plays are being enacted. He said that the educational institutes of the city are playing a very good role in promoting theatre and if more facilities are provided by the authorities the theatre of the city can again stand out in the country.