Early Times Report
Jammu, June 16: In a powerful performance, Natrang presented a new Hindi play titled ‘Laadli’ written by Manjul Bhardwaj and directed by Neeraj Kant. The play was staged at the Natrang Studio Theatre in Jammu as part of Natrang's weekly theatre series, ‘Sunday Theatre’. 'Laadli' addresses the pressing issue of gender inequality, resonating with the unheard voices of countless unborn girls, and fervently advocating for the celebration of the birth and life of the girl child.
The play opens with the heart-wrenching cry of a female fetus, where an unborn girl communicates with her mother, pleading, "O mother! Don't kill me, I want to come into this world, want to see this beautiful world, don't kill me." This emotional plea sets the tone for the subsequent scenes, where a woman is coerced into undergoing an amniotic fluid test and is later forced to abort her pregnancy upon discovering she is carrying a girl.
A particularly poignant scene depicts the father's distress over his inability to provide a dowry and his family's insistence on maintaining their lineage. The girl's grandfather even contemplates arranging a second marriage for his son. Following this, the actors disperse across the stage, searching for girls and educating the audience about the boy-girl ratio across various Indian states.
In a moving monologue, the girl in the womb addresses her parents, grandparents, and the doctor, asserting that she deserves to be born. She highlights that girls today are not weak; they are capable, educated, and can support their parents. She challenges the doctor, emphasizing that their role is to save lives, not end them, and pleads, "I want to live, I want to come into this world, don't kill me."
The climax of the play sees the mother gathering the courage to give birth to her child. The production concludes on a joyous note with all the actors singing and dancing to celebrate the birth of the girl.
The cast of young Natrang actors included Priyal Gupta, Payal Khanna, Sanna Devi, Lalita Sharma, Kushal Bhat, Aadesh Dhar, and Mehak Chib. The lighting was managed by Neeraj Kant, and the show was coordinated by Mohd. Yaseen.
‘Laadli’ not only captivated the audience with its emotional narrative but also delivered a strong message on the importance of gender equality and the celebration of the girl child. |
