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Published: 13 March 2015

JAMMU: In the ongoing Drama Festival organized by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Jammu,  J&K Rangshala Sansthan staged Jaywant Dalvi’s Marathi play “Sandhya Chhaya” translated in Hindi by Dr. Kusum Kumar and directed by the Ace Director of the State Sh. Umesh Singh in the auditorium of Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu which was highly liked by the audience. Performance was a shining example of perfection in all the creative departments of presentation as actors alongwith technical team kept the audience spellbound.

Loneliness, bad health and separation from children -- woes of ageing parents -- have been portrayed in a heart-warming manner in "Sandhya Chayya", a well-directed play with moving performances by the lead actors conveying an important message for the younger generation. Director Umesh Singh says that he picked up the story, written by prominent Marathi playwright Jaywant Dalvi in the 1980s that is even relevant today, to send out a message to all youngsters that "do not neglect your parents no matter what professional commitments you have".

How big dreams and ambitions are taking children away from home and leaving behind their parents to deal with day-to-day problems and loneliness at the fag end of their lives is effectively portrayed in the play. Actors Meenu Sharma and Rajesh Ajnabi wowed with their performance in the lead roles of Nani & Nana the elderly couple, who are so lonely that they befriend a little girl  Sharmila Dixit  (Megha Ajnabi) over phone and chat with her to ward away their loneliness.

The original script was written in the 1980s and was adapted/translated by many into a play, including Dr. Kusum Kumar. In 1995, director Jyoti Sarup made a film on the subject with Shreeram Lagoo and Sulabha Deshpande in the lead. "Nowadays in theatre, focus is more on comedy and light-hearted stories, but I deliberately chose the subject because I want to keep alive the culture of serious plays," Umesh Singh director of play told. Although Rakesh Mayus doesn't have any dialogues in the play, he impresses with his performance. His entry brings laughter in the otherwise grim and gloomy drama.

The climax is tragic and disheartening as the couple commits suicide, but Umesh Singh says he doesn't want anyone to end their life, but hopes that children would create space for their parents in their busy lives. Music was used with such a perfection that it made many in the audience to wipe their tears. Shadab Khan as Shyam Dass Pandey, Neeraj Kesar as Deenu, Nikhil Singh as Nandu and Umesh Singh as Dada also impressed with their performance. While Costumes were designed by Sunita K. Thakur, Make-up by Ashok Bhasin, Music Designed/Directed & Executed by Rakesh Mayus, Set Designed & Executed by Shiv Dev Singh, Lights by Pankaj, Sound by Lokesh, Property by Siddharth Singh, Production Management by Abhishek Singh and Gautam Singh was the Assistant Director of the play.