Punjabi play ‘Kudesan’ portrays anguish of women

SD Sharma 

Chandigarh, November 15

The 13th edition of the Annual Gursharan Singh Naat Utsav concluded with the poignant presentation of Punjabi play ' Kudesan' by 30 actors of Punjab Naatshala, Amritsar, under the direction of Manchpreet at the Tagore theatre here today. 

Staged over 400 times, the intense play, structured in the rural ambience of UP, Bihar and Punjab had been written  by acclaimed thespian Jatinder Brar with the deep comprehension of the anguish and tormented  mind of the underprivileged poor women who were sold like animals by their poverty stricken kin to prospective buyers. 

Such migrant women are called 'Kudesans' in Punjab and this unethical social evil was effectively illustrated with the  sensitive and sympathetic portrayal of the life of  a Bihari kudesan' named Ganga' by brilliant actress, Mandeep Ghai.  Ganga  is first sold to a Punjabi , later to Muslim and a Christen and director  uses certain symbols to describe the painful transition of  her faith, soul and living style to each stage of her life. 

The  huge multi-purpose stage sets, lighting  with soothing music by Harinder Sohal, who composed lyrics by Surjit Patar, augmented the production-level. Mandeep Ghai,  Kuljeet Singh, Sukhdeep Bal, Baljinder Kalsi, Rajinder Chaudhary, Sudesh Vinkle, Hardeep Panesar, Harpreet Kaur, Kaveri Joshi essayed major roles. 

The audience stood up for eminently deserved ovation and festival director Anita Shabdeesh expressed gratitude to all contributors for success of the festival.       

Hindi play 'Triyatra' will be staged by Curio Society, Jaipur,  in the CSNA Winter Theatre Festival at the same venue.