High Five

It's a festival that promises to bring five absorbing issues by five talented theatre directors on one stage.

The stage for the second National Theatre Festival of Adakar Manch is set

It’s a festival that promises to bring five absorbing issues by five talented theatre directors on one stage. The second National Theatre Festival of Adakar Manch is back with an aspiration to create waves through theatre. Since January,weve seen hectic theatre activity in the city and thats such an encouraging sign and we are taking the creative movement forward, Sahib Singh of Adakar Manch is busy with the preparation of the festival which begins on March 4. For the last 14 years,the theatre group has been taking theatre not just to cities all over India,but also to the interiors of Punjab. Sahibs recently received the International Shiromani Rangkarmi award from a Canadian organization and the festival he says,is a celebration of this award. We want the people of the city to enjoy various forms of theatre and this time we are also announcing two awards in the memory of two artists from our group,Garry Bhinder and Pushakar who lost their lives last year and these awards will be given every year, adds Sahib.

The festival begins with Man De Haani written by Ravinder Ravi and directed by Sahib and deals with the complex issue of search for a soul mate. The dialogues are in verse and live music and dance are the other highlights of the play. All together,its a new theme and treatment, assures the director. Another reputed director from the city,Davinder Daman,brings Qatra Qatra Zindagi,which revolves around the inner struggles and fight for existence of a writer and his teacher wife,both theatre workers. Khirki Band Kar Dio,a single womans struggle has been directed by Harvinder Kaur,while Vijay Tendulkars Gidh will be directed by NSDs Ramji Bali. On the final day of the festival thats March 8,Kewal Dhaliwal with Mein Punjab Boldan will tell the story of Punjab,her land of five rivers,struggles for prosperity et al, sums up Sahib.

The Festival is the effort of North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala,Adakar Manch in collaboration with Punjab Arts Council and Punjabi Academy,Delhi. The plays will be staged at Punjab Kala Bhavan,Sector 16,at 6.45 pm.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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