Once again the magic of Habib Tanvir’s creativity was witnessed on stage of Bharat Bhavan through the Hindi play ‘Gaon Naam Sasural Mor Naam Damad’. The play was staged here on Friday under a 10-day long theatre festival Rang Adhaar Natya Samaroh at Antrang Hall, Bharat Bhavan.
Written and Directed by noted theatre artist Habib Tanvir in early seventies and its first show was staged in 1973 at Raipur. In Habib Tanvir’s words, “This play was like a milestone in my theatre journey and this play also helped me to give a way to my next production Charandas Chor.”
Describing the colours of culture and tradition of Chhattisgarh, the play was staged by Naya Theatre Group, Bhopal. This play focuses on Chhattisgarhi Naach Style, Chher – Chhera, Budhwa Vivah (getting married to an old man) and Dewar Nakal. Naach Style is finely defined in Tanvir’s this play, which means that a chorus is needed to narrate the story through songs and music.
Gaon Naam Sasural Mor Naam Damad is a folk tale and a light hearted comedy. This play is satire over the society and various phases of it. It also defines the perceptions of the society towards youngsters falling in love.
The play begins with showing the harvest festival Chher-Chhera and the story introduces two young boys Jhanglu and Manglu. Jhanglu falls for Manti and proposes her for marriage. Manti’s father has already accepted an old sarpanch as his son-in-law. Now Jhanglu wants to marry Manti. But girl’s father fixed her marriage with a rich old man of the village. Here Jhanglu appears as a fake dewar before the girl’s father and the boy uses some tricks and tantrums and run away with the girl.
The audience burst out laughing by situational comedy. With the traditional songs and music of Chhattisgarh the play became more interesting . The audience was enthralled to watch the performance of the artists.