Saudagar portrays deep rot of drugs in society at theatre fest

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 14

Artistes vividly portrayed the problem of drugs and how it has affected youth of the state in a play, Saudagar, staged on the final day of the Natyam National Theatre Festival at Balwant Gargi Theatre, Rose Garden, on Monday evening. 

The play was directed by Kirti Kirpal and renowned playwright Nirmal Jaura. Actors brilliantly brought alive the ecstasy felt after use of drugs, followed by unending pain and irreparable damage it causes to society. Emotive dialogues of the play regarding the deep rot of drugs that runs in the state today and their immaculate delivery in chaste Punjabi language on stage by actors kept the audience glued to the stage till the last minute of one hour and fifteen minutes-long play. 

Artistes depicted how the land of five rivers has been gradually losing its sheen and youngsters were getting washed away in the flow of drugs. Few influential people for their own vested interests have taken up the drug trade whilst generations of youth have been lost to the menace.

Saudagar Singh, the central character of the play, is one among those who have taken up the drug trade to make some quick buck. He uses agents and peddlers, most of whom are youngsters to expand his network of drugs. Meanwhile, his son, a bright youngster after scoring good marks in school was asked to pursue his higher academics in Chandigarh. One of the reasons for sending his son to Chandigarh was to keep him away from the menace of drugs that has spread its tentacles in villages. 

There have occurred a number of incidents in villages and some youngsters had even died due to drugs but despite knowing that he is the one behind the supply of drugs, he choses to remain quiet and let his drugs trade flourish secretly. 

But one day, he comes to know from the Chandigarh police that his son has met with an accident and has died on the spot. The police also inform that his son was in the clutches of drugs and when the police tried to chase him, his car overturned and his son died on the spot. At the end, Saudagar Singh was seen shedding tears over the dead body of his son. He learns that his suffering stemed from the seeds he had sown years ago.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal presided as chief guest on final day of the theatre festival. Manpreet gave a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to Natyam and also promised to give another Rs 3 lakh soon. On the successful completion of ninth edition of the festival, chairman Dr Kashish Gupta and director Kirti Kirpal expressed gratitude towards all.