Hindi play 'Jwala' depicting the lifespan of Rani Durgawati was staged at Shaheed Bhavan Auditorium here on Tuesday. The play was staged as part of a two-day theatre festival, 'Veerangana,' being organised in the memory of Rani Durgavati
Directed by a noted and renowned theatre director of the city KG Trivedi, the play is written by Hemant Devlekar. The artist of Trikarshi Theatre Group, Bhopal gave a splendid performance before the theatre goers of the city.
Beginning from the childhood of Rani Durgavati, the play focuses on how this brave Rajput female warrior fought against Mughal King Akbar to save her empire.
The play begins with the Raj Tilak of Durgavati's husband, Raja Dalpat Shah where he is informed about Rani Durgavati and he visits her palace on her birthday in the attire of a common man. Rani Durgavati is seen distributing gifts in her kingdom and later she is informed that Raja Dalpat Shah was also present there.
When one fine day Rani Durgavati went on hunting she is saved by Raja Dalpat Shah and eventually they both get married. Suddenly, Raja Dalpat Shah died and Rani Durgavati inherits the throne as her son was too small to take the charge.
After her counselors advise her to let the Mughals conquer the kingdom as they have a larger army, Rani Durgavati refused and decided to fight. At the end of the play she is seen stabbing herself rather to be a puppet in the hands of the Mughals.
While talking to The Pioneer, director of the play, KG Trivedi said, "Rani Durgavati is famous in Indian history for refusing to submit to the Mughul emperor Akbar as he pushed ever deeper into Central India as part of his goal of dominating all of India."
Elaborating further about her, Trivedi said, "Notably, her kingdom, Gada, was one of five traditionally independent Gond states. She was offered the choice of peacefully becoming a vassal of the Mughal Emperor, but she refused and prepared to fight the Mughal king."
The audience enjoyed the show whole-heartedly and was enthralled with the story of Rani Durgavati.
The matured acting skills of the artists left the audience mesmerized.