Kharaashein - Play. As part of Srijanotsava Gulzar

Friday, 7 May 2010

Ravindra Bhavan, Margao Goa

Kharaashein, a collage of Gulzar’s literary creations on riots was finally staged in Lucknow on Sunday. Originally scheduled to be staged in 2004, Salim Arif’s much acclaimed play was then denied permission by the government as it felt the screening could incite communal passions.
Today, when it was staged before the “sensitive Lucknow residents” the play did incite emotions not passion.



“Such stark realities put in perspective help people face their common fears...it propagate communal harmony not disharmony,” aptly remarked one amongst the audience that included Gulzar and other theatre connoisseurs like Gopi Chand Narang, Raj Biseria to name a few.
Based on the insanity of riots and how they affect the psyche of a common man, Kharaashein comprises verses and short stories by Gulzar. Characters take turns to recite the poetry while pairing up to enact the skits in the language that is quintessentially Gulzar -a kind that draws his fans in droves.