Pic Week

Indian People8217;s Theatre Association IPTA, a 55 year old body, is having its annual festival of Hindi plays at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu.

Indian People8217;s Theatre Association IPTA, a 55 year old body, is having its annual festival of Hindi plays at Prithvi Theatre, Juhu. The IPTA festival has been traditionally held every year at Prithvi. IPTA started as an offshoot of the freedom struggle, where chauraha plays were staged to arouse patriotic feelings among the people. Most of the members were well-know film actors then. Reminisces a veteran IPTA actor, quot; Whenever we used to perform, we would post guards around the area so they could warn us if the police came. And if they did, the actors would immediately switch over to a romantic play. They were that good.quot;After Independence it continued as a forum for Hindustani theatre. The festival always begins on May 1, as a commemoration of Labour Day. This year eight plays will be staged. Well-known names like Anjan Srivastav, Sudhir Pande, Rakesh Bedi and Sulbha Arya will be performing. The festival starts on May 1, 1997.

Shatranj Ke Mohre: May 1. Time: 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.

Aakhri Peshi: May 2. Time: 9.00 pm.

Ek Aur Dronacharya: May 3. Time: 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.

Motheram Ka Satyagraha: May 4. Time: 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.

Ek Chadar Maili Si: May 6. Time: 9.00 pm.

Alka Ke Baal Bachche: May 7. Time: 9.00 pm. Neelaam: May 8. Time:

6.00 pm and 9.00 pm. ABCDEFG: May 9. Time: 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm.