Norah Richards Theatre Fest begins at Punjabi University

The 10th Norah Richards Theatre Festival, organised by Sarthak Rang Manch and Social Welfare Society, Patiala, in collaboration with the Youth Welfare Department and Punjab Music Academy, Chandigarh, began with the play, ‘Tooma’, written by Prof Ajmer Singh Aulakh and directed by Dr Lakha Lahri, at Punjabi University today.

Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who was present on the occasion, said theatre actors were true artistes who perform continuously for an hour and a half without any retake. Speaking about the importance of the theatre festival, he said such cultural events generated awareness, self-confidence, and energy among the youth.

Punjabi University Registrar Dr Sanjeev Puri welcomed Dr. Balbir Singh and appreciated the efforts of Sarthak Rang Manch and the Youth Welfare Department.

Festival director Inderjit Goldie shed light on the contributions of Norah Richards and Prof Ajmer Singh Aulakh to Punjabi literature and theatre.

The play is based on a famous folk tale of the Malwa region of Punjab about the death of Kehar Singh, which is believed to be a true story.

The play revolves around the main character, Kehar Singh, an innocent and understanding son. In rural Punjab, people from the landless and labour class faced difficulties in getting marriage proposals and had to buy one.

The same thing happened with Kehar Singh. He married a woman whom his parents had bought for him. Usually, such relationships do not last long, but Kehar Singh and his wife fall in love. Shortly after their marriage, Kehar Singh's brother-in-law comes to take his sister back home on the pretext of his mother's illness.

When Kehar Singh went to his in-laws’ house to bring his wife back, his mother-in-law and brother-in-law beat him up and demanded more money and jewellery in exchange for his wife.

Disappointed, Kehar Singh joins the Army and after working for years, he goes back to take his wife back from his in-laws in exchange for his savings. He is murdered by his cruel in-laws for the greed of money.

At the end of the play, Kehar Singh's wife fights for her husband's death and gets him justice.

Dammanpreet Singh played the rold of Kehar Singh, Kamal Nazam played Rami, Fateh Sohi played the father and Kehar's mother-in-law, Bhupinder Kaur played his mother, Uttam Daral played Ginder and Boota, Gurdit Pahesh played Pakhar, Sanjeev Rai played Jailla, and Sidharth Ohri played the Englishman.