Award Worthy

Three plays,including one from Delhi,are contending for the first Bhilwara Natya Puraskar,instituted by the industrial group LNJ Bhilwara Group to recognise stellar works in Hindi theatre. While Hyderabad-based Rangdhara’s play Main Rahi Masoom was staged onSaturday,Delhi-based Asmita Theatre Group’s critically acclaimed Ambedkar aur Gandhi will take the stage today. On Monday,before the winners are announced,Manoj Joshi Creations from Mumbai will present Chanakya. “The winner will get a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh while the runner-up will get a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. Awards also include a citation and a trophy,” says Narender Mudgal,secretary of the Bhilwara Natya Puraskar Committee. He adds that more than 20 companies from India applied and a jury that included Rajinder Bagrodia,industrialist and philanthropist,Prof Bharat Gupt,theatre theorist from Delhi University and Mohan Maharishi,former director,National School of Drama made the shortlist.

While Main Rahi Masoom depicts the life of Rahi Masoom Raza and Chanakya talks about the famous Indian tactician,Ambedkar aur Gandhi is a contemporary social take on the two leaders. The play opened in 2009 and,among its highlights,are eight songs that includes Bob Dylan’s Answer is Blowing in the Wind. Director Arvind Gaur says,“It is laudable that industrial groups are stepping in to patronise theatre. IT is also important that the award focuses on Hindi plays and the people involved in judging it have been theatre lovers for many years.”

The plays are being staged at Sri Ram Centre. Contact: 9818654078.