Musical play ‘Gulistan’ spells wisdom of legendary Sheikh Saadi of Persia

Chandigarh, January 28        

The CEVA Drama Repertory Company staged a play, ‘Gulistan’, based on two stories taken from the immortal Persian prose work of same title by thirteenth century legendary visionary philosopher Sheikh Saadi, at the Tagore Theatre here today. 

Adapted and directed by  Dr P Chandrashekhar with Vinod Bharti’s lyrics set to music by Chinis Gill, the play reflected different aspect of the ethics prevailing in human life and society. Besides, the playwright had attempted to extract the wisdom spelt by Saadi through short stories in his book. 

The play defined the supremacy of king, kingship and the public in totality with king’s duties towards the subjects and conflicts due prevalent conventions influencing his rule and the public through the story of a king suffering from an incurable disease.  For the survival of king, a liver of specific fitness norms was needed as advised by his doctors and a farmer’s son was found appropriate. His parents were given sufficient compensation before the Qazi released the ‘fatwa’ that to shed one’s blood for sake of the king’s life was the duty of the boy.  When the executioner was preparing to kill him, the boy looking towards the sky started laughing much to the amazement of the curious king who wished to know. The boy made the king realize his duties and the repentant king decided to better die then to harm his subjects. Jasveer Singh and Chainis  Gill portrayed the scene with brilliance.—OC