• Vomedh assured of support by all the attendees in its mission for preservation of Theatre, Art Culture and Languages

Srinagar, August 01, 2024: On the concluding day of the “Pagah” Theatre Festival, Tagore Hall witnessed jam-packed audience for the intense solo play “Vaishiya” written and directed by Shazi Khan and performed by Ridhima Kalsi, under Nav Durga Kala Manch.

The 3-Day long festival organised by renowned theatre group of the state, Vomedh from July 30 to August 01, 2024, and dedicated to Bharat Singh Manhas, Secretary J&K Academy of Art, Cultural and Languages, who passed away recently, was inaugurated by Principal Secretary Department of Culture Suresh Kumar Gupta on the first day who was also the chief guest at Tagore Hall Srinagar.

The festival is part of the Vomedh’s initiative for preservation and promotion of Theatre, Kashmiri language art and culture under project Pagah. The brother duo Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat, the co-founders of Vomedh, were the festival directors.

Reputed theatre and cultural groups from Jammu and Kashmir presented their Kashmiri plays over the course of three days.

The concluding day was presided over by Dr Satish Vimal, renowned writer, broadcaster and critique of the state with Rajinder Premi, prominent Social Activist as Guest of Honour.  Renowned Bollywood actor Mir Sarwar was the chief guest on the second Day of the festival while renowned artist and director Mushtaq Ali and senior political and social activist Nana Ji Wattal were the guests of honour.

“We are overwhelmed by the response received from the participating theatre groups, the audience and people in general for this initiative. We are happy that people are connecting with our mission to preserve and promote Theatre. The roots of Vomedh are in theatre and we want to leverage our expertise in theatre to propagate it”, said Rohit Bhat while expressing his pleasure over the successful completion of the theatre festival.

The plays and programmes performed over three days included famous play “Mar Kar Jeena” written and directed by Rakesh Roshan Bhat and designed by Rohit Bhat under the banner of Vomedh, “Chitta Singh” by Reflection Group written and directed by Ravinder Sharma, “Mobile Addiction” by the students of Radiant Public School (RPS), Anantnag, written and directed by Aqib Ahmed, “Baand Nagma”  by Manzoor Ahmed under Pomposh Folk Baand Theatre  and very intense solo play “Vaishya” written and directed by Shazi Khan under Nav Durga Kala Manch, with Ridhima Kalsi performing the solo act on the last day.

The performances in all the plays were top notch. The theatre connoisseurs who attended the festival applauded the efforts of the theatre groups to pull off top quality productions which shows the commitment of these theatre groups towards theatre and love towards theatre, culture and language.

The prominent guests from art, culture, academics, administration, and armed forces and others who attended the festival commended Vomedh for organizing such a theatre festival on regular basis. They appreciated the efforts of Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat and appealed to audience to encourage such initiatives.

On this occasion various personalities from art, media and events faculties were felicitated for their role in promoting culture and art in the valley viz Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary Department of Culture, J&K, Sanjeev Rana, Additional Secretary JKAACL, AK Raina, Vice President AIKS, Sanjay Saraf, National Spokesperson, RLJP, Mushtaq Ali, Mir Sarwar, Nana Ji Wattal, Apni Party, Shah Jahan Azad, Chairman Folk Art Association, Satish Vimal, Rajinder Premi, Farhat Siddiqui  besides appreciation awards to Sunny Mujjoo, Pomposh Folk Theatre, Nav Durga Kala Manch, the Reflection Group, Radiant Public School Anantnag and Team Vomedh. Senior Journalist, Social Activist and Artist King C Bharati, Rohit Bhat, Director Vomedh, Mushtaq Ali, Ayaash Arif , Bharti Kaul, Vice President Vomedh, Suman Bhat from TRN and other prominent personalities were present among the audience.

We are making a serious and sustained effort to work towards bridging the gap between the various communities and create an atmosphere of complete communal harmony and brotherhood through theatre. We feel delighted that people are realizing the need for such a sustained initiative. We appreciate the help we are getting here. We want project Pagah to become a people’s movement. I dream of the day when people from all the regions of the state join hands to work for peace, progress and development of art and culture as well as the overall progress of the state”, said Rakesh Roshan Bhat, convenor of project Pagah.

Rakesh is also a famous playwright and co-founder of Vomedh. The programme was hosted by Bidiya Tickoo.

“Vaishiya”: A Powerful Solo Performance Stuns Audience at Pagah Theatre Festival

On the concluding day of the ‘Pagah’ Theatre Festival, a gripping solo performance titled “Vaishiya” left the audience spellbound, culminating in a well-deserved standing ovation. Presented under the banner of Nav Durga Kala Manch, the play offered a searing indictment of societal prejudices and the struggles women face.

“Vaishiya” tells the harrowing yet poignant story of a woman battling relentless hardships played by Ridhima Kalsi. Opening with her death and a defiant rejection of the derogatory label “Vaishiya” (a term with cattiest and derogatory connotations), the play unfolds through a series of flashbacks, revealing the tragic trajectory of her life.

We witness her dedication as a wife, diligently managing household duties even while pregnant. Tragedy strikes with the sudden death of her husband, an event that triggers accusations and blame directed at her. Deemed cursed and responsible for his demise, she is ostracized and left to fend for herself and her unborn child.

Desperate to provide for her baby, she resorts to stealing food but is caught. This encounter leads to a horrifying act of exploitation as the shopkeeper takes advantage of her vulnerability. The play unflinchingly portrays her descent into prostitution as a desperate measure to ensure her child’s survival.

Despite enduring unimaginable hardship, her love for her husband remains undimmed, and her actions are driven by an unwavering maternal instinct. Yet, in a tragic twist, her sacrifices prove futile as her own child, unable to bear the social stigma of her profession, abandons her.

The play concludes with a series of heart-wrenching questions posed to society, challenging the hypocrisy and indifference that perpetuates the cycle of abandonment and suffering.

Ridhima Kalsi delivered a tour-de-force performance as the unnamed protagonist, embodying the character’s pain, resilience, and ultimately, her tragic fate with remarkable nuance and intensity.

Shazi Khan, the playwright, director, and designer of “Vaishiya,” masterfully crafts a powerful narrative that exposes the brutal realities faced by women in a patriarchal and unforgiving society.

The production was brought to life with exceptional skill and dedication by the following team: Cast: Ridhima Kalsi, Backstage Crew: Lights: Kamkshya Dogra, Music: Nikhil Khajuria (assisted by Ishu Bharati Pandit), Properties: Taiba Anjum, Irfana Bano, and Ishu Bharati Pandit, Costume: Shashank Singh Rajput, Makeup: Muskan Chib, Choreographer: Vijay Kumar Bunty, Production: Jung Bahadur and Assistance: Nikhil Khajuria

“Vaishiya” stands as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of women, even as it shines a harsh light on the deeply rooted injustices that continue to plague our society. This thought-provoking production is sure to resonate with audiences long after the curtain falls.