On the second day of six-day theatre festival “Natya Mahotsav” at Lovely Professional University, hundreds of theatre loving LPU students witnessed the enactment of the play “Kis Thaag Ne Luteya Shehar Mera” by Manch Rangmanch Group of Amritsar.
The Punjabi play was conceived, designed, and directed by the world renowned theater maestro Kewal Dhaliwal. It was a powerful commentary on the competitiveness that plagues the Indian middle class today, and the destructive effect it has on society and relationships.
The performance, on August 24th, depicted how middle class people want to turn their dreams into reality through their children. It was a story of a small-town family, a couple who had only one motive to live for – that their sons become achievers. For this they put the boys in to the mindless rat race that rages rampant in society. Towards this end they gave their sons unflinching moral and monetary support so that they might achieve glory in every walk of life. Their obedient sons follow the designed path chalked out by their parents, get merit positions, take admission in excellent courses, join prominent and well to do companies and make strenuous efforts to achieve the highest positions.
However, in all of this the parents themselves get neglected pathetically. As their sons grow successful, they gradually get detached from their ageing parents. Finding their own lives in the fast lanes of big cities they leave their parents behind, old and helpless. The despair that the parents’ dreams end in is beautifully depicted through powerful performances that it moves the spectator to tears.
It was a soul stirring performance that left the spell bound audience with food for introspection.
