Stage for Memories

“My father had a passion for theatre,writing and direction. Our home was a rehearsal space,forever filled

with actors. I was only four when I first got on the stage and,ever since,theatre has been an integral part of my life,’’ said Swaraj.

Promoting new talent,travelling around the country to view new trends in theatre,Sardar Ghumman was closely associated with Prithviraj Kapoor and had actors such as IC Nanda,Balraj Sahni and Om Puri as part of his productions. An acclaimed writer,whose works have been included in syllabuses of several colleges and universities,Sardar Ghumman experimented with new techniques on stage. “His plays were realistic,and revolved around the land and its people. My father played on every stage possible in Punjab and took his productions across the country,’’ says Swaraj,recalling a particular instance of a costume drama titled Noorjehan,which travelled to Kolkota and floored the audience with its magnificent sets and costumes. “Language was no bar. To make a play work,he would put in his own finances into it. He was very committed to theatre,’’ says Swaraj.

“I decided to form a society,which will organize theatre activities such as an annual festival of plays from across the country. I will translate and stage my father’s plays,and we will honour those who contribute to the cause of Punjabi theatre,’’ says Swaraj.

Singh,who received the first Kapur Singh Ghumman Award,remembers Sardar Ghumman as a man who was completely dedicated to Punjabi drama and theatre,and describes his play Rani Koklan as a masterpiece. “His sense of experimentation always inspired me. As for the award,it’s encouraging to be honoured by one’s own people,’’ says Atamjit,who has also won the Sahitya Akademi Award-2009 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-2011.

Singh’s play The Ghadar Express will be staged all over Punjab as part of the Centenary of the Ghadar Movement and the playwright has recently completed his new play Tasveer Da Teeja Pasa. “The title does not mean the third dimension of a picture,but the third side of a frame The central point is terror and its many faces,’’ he explains.