Seventeen year old Monthly Garden Theatre Movement, first of its kind in India, launched by duo Pran Sabharwal-Sunita Sabharwal of National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) Patiala under the patronage of Maharani Preneet Kaur in 2001 has completed regular Monthly 200 Garden Theatre performances.
The historic event “Sard Rut Chetna Natak Mela Celebrations”, consisting of various theatre forms, like the proscenium, popular theatre, Nukkar Natak, folk theatre Bhand Naklan etc., was organised in association with philanthropist Dr. SP Singh Oberoi Head Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust at Baradari Gardens, here.
The Praesidium including State’s prominent personalities Dr. Sawraj Singh, Global Thinker awardee, popular socialite couple Balwinder Singh Billu Bedi-Amarbir Kaur Bedi former counselors, Arch. Jagmohan Singh Bedi and Shyam Lal Navyug inaugurated the festival by paying floral tributes and offering Parshad at the idol of Lord Shiva.
Dr. Sawraj Singh showering lavish praise on NTAS’ duo Pran Sabharwal-Sunita Sabharwal, President G.S. Kakkar and members, said that NTAS created history by completing 200 regular “First Sunday Monthly Garden Theatre Festivals” despite financial and seasonal odds, sensitising people by presenting socially relevant plays. He spoke about supremacy of Indian Thought and India’s role in World Affairs.
Bedi urged people to keep clean Baradari Gardens, a novel gift from Royal family. On the occasion, the satirical plays attracting rapt attention of the audience included Shiromani Sahitakar Awardees – Jatinder Brar’s “Sabz Baag” and Ajmer Aulakh’s anti-domestic violence “Sukki Kukh”, Satpal Bangan’s new play “Dustak”, anti-feticide “So Kiyon Manda Akhiyen”, “Kaka-Pataka” and Anoop Singh group’s “Bhand Naqlaan”, besides folk dances by Jagdish Kumar, Sukhwinder Sukha and musicals by Subhash Malik, Manjit Singh Mani, Manga Jelly.
The Ntasians honoured the members of the Praesidium, guests and gave away cash awards to all the artists including gold star artists Gurmeet Kaur, Sweety Rajput, Yuvraj Dhaliwal, Rajat Chauhan, Mangal Jelly, Subhash Malik and Jaspreet Singh.
