Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, Chandigarh is going to open its Annual Production. This year’s Annual Production will be dedicated in the remembrance of Padma Shri Prof. Balwant Gargi, the founder and Director of the Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
The freshly written script by Ekam Maanuke, ‘Sohni Mahiwal’ is inspired by Prof. Balwant Gargi’s Play Sohni.
Sohni Mahiwal is one of the most prominent poetic legends of Punjab and Sindh. It is a story of love and sacrifice, the script along with the story is woven with songs and qalaams by Sufi poets Fazal Shah, Hashim Shah, Bulle Shah, etc.
The Annual Production Sohni Mahiwal is Designed and Directed by Dr Navdeep Kaur, Chairperson, Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, Chandigarh.
While speaking about the process of the production, Dr. Navdeep Kaur said that my work is majorly focused on finding creative ways to bridge the gap between our roots and modern sensibilities. The working approach from the Script to Performance is also enriched with cultural and traditional explorations.
She added, Before the commencement of any Play production process it is necessary for the team to get into the roots of the text and the theme it is revolving around. As such students were advised to do Research about the Historical, Cultural, Traditional, Geographical, Economic, Political, and Psychological aspects of that Era which helped them to understand and develop their sensitivity and knowledge about the language, culture, history, rituals, along with the human behaviors of that time period.
Since the play is in Punjabi language and most of the students of the department were not from Punjabi backgrounds. So, it was a huge task to work on
Punjabi diction of the students, with constant guidance and hard work our students achieved the same.
The Production process continues for 45 days. The Director of the play mentioned that being a teacher director along with designing and directing a play you have a big responsibility to work on various skills of your students which majorly involves acting as well as different aspects of the play production like Set, Music, Lights, Costumes, etc.
The director of the play further added that it was not easy to create such an Art Piece in 45 days but since we have a wonderful batch of talented and hardworking students. Working with them till late at night for the backstage work along with the rehearsals during the daytime made it possible.
Shows of the play will be from 27th May to 31st May 2024, the timing of the show will be 06:30 pm onwards every day in the Studio Theatre of the Department.
