Chandigarh
25 April 2023
DIVYA AZAD
On the first day of Hasyam, three-day annual Comedy Theatre Festival 2023. ‘Bade Miyan Deewane’, was staged at Tagore Theatre in Sector 18 here today.
The play, written by Imran Rasheed was based on renowned Pakistani Urdu writer Janab Shaukat Thanvi Sahab’s novel “Budhbhas”.
Among prominent present were UT Finance Secretary, Vijay N Zade, Assistant Labour Commissioner, UT Naveen Sharma, and PS, Cultural Affairs, UT Anil Singh.
The play, staged by Rangbaaz Production, Mumbai, was essentially about a rich eccentric octogenarian who is used to living a luxurious and flamboyant life and is swept off his feet by a beautiful young girl in his neighborhood, who incidentally is also the love interest of his son.
Meer Sahab falls for the young daughter of his neighbour Sheikh Inaayatullah, his son, Tabish, is also in love with the same girl (Suraiya) and wants to marry her. Sheikh Sahab on the other hand wants to get Suraiya married to a dynamic man, charming young writer, Shaukat, who is an acquaintance of both Meer Sahab & Sheikh Sahab. Shaukat is a genuine well-wisher of Meer Sahab who wants him to stop splurging his wealth on his tawaif (Heera & Gulab) and return to his good old days. Meer Sahab wants Shaukat to convince Sheikh that he is a great prospect for his daughter and at the same time, Sheikh wants Shaukat to counter Mir Sahab’s advances and teach him a lesson. As a result, Shaukat is embroiled in an unwanted sticky situation and all this leads to major confusion, misunderstanding, jealousy and an utterly hilarious series of events!
On the second day (April 26, Wednesday), ‘Udhar Ka Pati’ will be staged by Group Veena Pani Kala Mandir, Jaipur, which has been Directed by Tapan Bhatt. Meanwhile, on the concluding day (April 27, Thursday), ‘My Wife’s 8th Vachan’ will be staged by the Group, The Films and Theatre Society, Mumbai, and has been Directed by Atul Satya Koushik.
The festival includes three comedy plays, featuring prominent theatre artists from different parts of the country. The festival is being organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration and Tagore Theatre Society, Chandigarh. The plays are being staged from April 25 to 27 daily at 6:30 pm at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18 here and the entry is free.
