Angst and the Man

Alankar’s latest offering is Ram Sajeevan Ki Prem Katha,which traces the journey of a man who is grappling with various contradictions,specially between the middle class and the upper middle class. Sajeevan finds his own space by working with the underprivileged. “It’s a character that I relate to. With economic differences,arise social contrasts,and I see my aspirations in Sajeevan,’’ says Chakresh Kumar,the director.

Kumar is also the founder of the group along with Jagdish Tewari,a fellow alumnus from the Department of Indian Theatre,Panjab University. “Alankar is a self-sufficient group,” he adds. The two also work with colleges,NGOs,school and other theatre groups to aid their passion.

“We have two journalists who work on scripts,the writing and the editing work of the group. Jagdish,apart from acting,takes care of the technical aspects,I sponsor the food and we have a well-wisher who has hired the space for staging this play. Thus,the act continues,’’ smiles Kumar.

He has created the character of Sajeevan carefully — “He moves from a village to Delhi University and finds himself among the rich,the politically connected and the intellectual. Even as he searches for his own his stand,Sajeevan builds relationships and follows his heart. This is what the story traces,” says Chandraprakash,a retired Air Force officer who plays the older Sajeevan. The younger Sajeevan is played by Tewari.

The play will be staged on September 3 and 4 at Punjab Kala Bhavan at 7 pm