On Day 2 of the ongoing three-day annual comedy theatre festival-2023, Hasyam, a thrilling comedy play Udhaar Ka Pati (borrowed husband) was staged at the Tagore Theatre, Sector 18.
The play was staged by the Veena Pani Kala Mandir, a numero uno theatre-cum-musical group from of Jaipur (Rajasthan) under the astute direction of Tapan Bhatt. The theatre group has to its credit more than 1000 stage shows and more than 500 music shows held across the country, every time romping home with awards and accolades.
The story revolves around the lead character Sheela, who was raised by her grandfather. Though married to a poor man, she projects themselves to be a richie-rich couple enjoying all good things in life. She resorts to lying time and again to hide one or the other lie. She lies even to her grandfather about her ‘borrowed’ husband and her newly acquired high profile social status. A series of lies that she indulges in lands the couple in the police net. They had to spill the beans to the police. The play ends on a happy note, breaking a seemingly charged audience into wide giggles and guffaws.
The star cast of the drama Udhaar Ka Pati included Vishal Bhatt, Abhishek Jhankal, Saurabh Bhatt, Jhilmil, Richa Paliwal, Aarushi Keshot, Chitransh Mathur, Shahrukh Khan and Kamlesh Chandani, who pulled out their characters with finesse.
The 3-day-long comedy fiesta is being organised by Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akademi in association with the Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration and the Tagore Theatre Society, Chandigarh, featuring the prominent who’s who of theatre from across the country invited to perform and showcase their theatrical skills.
‘My Wife’s 8th Vachan’ , another comedy gig to be staged on Thursday by the Films and Theatre Society group from Mumbai, will mark the end to the 3-day-long comedy fest.
(The writer , Ramesh K Dhiman, is a former staffer of The Tribune and freelance writer. He has written extensively for leading newspapers and magazines on art, culture, mythology, besides travelogues.)
