Dr. Urmil Kumar Thapliyal’s Midas Touch

Lucknow: The third Urmil Rang Utsav was organized with much pomp and gusto at Sant Gadgeji Maharaj Auditorium with the honouring of veteran actor Dr. Anil Rastogi, Vijay Vastav and other artists. The five-day long festival of Dr. Urmilkumar Thapliyal Foundation, focused on the Nautanki genre, beginning with the re-enactment of the Nautanki 'Harishchandra Ki Ladai', composed 40 years ago under the music, writing and direction of Dr. Thapliyal, now directed by Ritun Thapliyal Mishra. The festival was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak.

This presentation, a mixture of Hathrasi and Kanpur Nautanki styles with Awadhi and Brij languages, puts a question mark on the contemporaneity of the ideals of the past.

While trying to bring Thapliyal's body of work to life, Ritun took the help of Ashwini Mita Pant in the presentation, especially in singing.

Guests Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Mukesh Bahadur Singh honoured senior actors Dr Anil Rastogi and Vijay Vaastav with Urmil Rang Samman. On this occasion, artists Rakesh Agnihotri, Devesh Agnihotri, Bhupendra Singh, Rajiv Prabhakar Awasthi, Shivaji Awara Virendra Rastogi, Ashwini Makhan, Shobhana Jagdish, Ritun, Manoj Joshi, Roop Raj Nagar, Tulika Gupta, Kavita Solanki, Vinita Solanki, Madhusudan and Ashok Banerjee who worked in this drama in 1984 were also honoured. In the festival which started on the birthday of Dr Thapliyal, tribute was paid to theatre artist Piyush Pandey.

Next the Nautanki Kevat ke Ram was staged by the artists of Kaushambi at Sant Gadgeji Maharaj Auditorium, Gomtinagar. On the second evening of Urmil Rang Utsav, this presentation of Dwarika Loknatya Kala Utthan Samiti under the direction of Santosh Kumar touched the emotions of the audience.

The drama Maharaja Bhartrihari written by Hukumchand Varshney, which depicts the feelings of a compassionate king who protects his subjects and a patriotic woman who is full of love, was brought on stage by the artists of Bundelkhand Lok Kala Sansthan Banda under the concept, editing and direction of Vijay Bahadur Srivastava. This drama, which was brought on the stage of Sant Gadgeji Maharaj Auditorium, Gomtinagar looked new, inspiring and relevant even today.

Welfare in both the situations of kingship and renunciation was the basic principle of Bhartrihari's entire life.

On the fourth evening of Urmil Rang Utsav being organised by Dr. Urmil Kumar Thapliyal Foundation, 'Bantwaare Ki Aag' told something deep to the audience in the verses of Nautanki.

Written by Vinod Rastogi, who has worked for a long time for the upliftment of Nautanki, this Nautanki was staged by the artists of Vinod Rastogi Smriti Sansthan of Prayagraj under the concept and direction of Ajay Mukherjee.

The Nautanki 'Bantwaare Ki Aag' is the story of a farmer's family. The cunning Naurangilal cleverly creates a rift between the love and peace of two brothers Shyamu and Ramu. This leads to discord in the family. The brothers reach a point of division. Later, the younger brother Ramu realises his mistake. Finally, both the brothers unite. The presenter was Alok Rastogi. On this occasion, as a guest, actor Dr. Anil Rastogi said that he had acted in thirty-five plays by Dr. Thapliyal. His favourite play was Yehudi Ki Ladki.

How deeply corruption has penetrated in our country's system, especially the police system. A sample of this has been wittily described by the famous satirist Harishankar Parsai in his satirical story Inspector Matadin Chand Par through his sharp satirical portrayals. This story in the form of a Nautanki was presented on the stage of Sant Gadgeji Maharaj Auditorium, Gomtinagar on the fifth and last evening of Urmil Rang Mahotsav. The Nautanki script of this story was prepared by Sheshpal Singh Shesh. In the story presented in the Urmil Rang Mahotsav organized by Dr. Urmil Kumar Thapliyal Foundation under the music, concept and direction of Neeraj Kushwaha,

Urmil Kumar Thapliyal was an Indian playwright, actor, and director known for his significant contributions to Hindi theatre. He was born in 1941 in Almora, Uttarakhand, and he made a substantial impact on the theatre scene in India. Thapliyal was particularly known for his works in the field of folk theatre, where he skillfully blended traditional Indian forms with contemporary themes.

Thapaliyal was an advocate for the preservation and promotion of folk arts, and his plays often drew inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of India. He was associated with numerous theatre groups and was instrumental in organizing theatre festivals and workshops aimed at nurturing young talent.

In recognition of his contributions to theatre, Thapliyal received several awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which is one of the highest honors in the field of performing arts in India. His legacy continues to influence contemporary Indian theatre and inspire future generations of artists.

Theatre in Lucknow has a rich and vibrant history, deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the city. Known for its contribution to various art forms, Lucknow has a thriving theatre scene that spans from traditional performances to modern plays. Here are some key aspects of theatre in Lucknow:

Historical Background

Nautanki and Swang: Traditional forms of folk theatre like Nautanki and Swang have been popular in Lucknow for centuries. These forms are characterized by their musical narratives and dramatic storytelling.

Prominent Theatre Venues

Bhartendu Natya Akademi: Established in 1975, it is one of the leading theatre institutions in Lucknow, named after the great Hindi playwright Bhartendu Harishchandra. The academy offers training in various aspects of theatre and organizes regular performances.

Ravindralaya Auditorium: A key venue for theatrical performances, this auditorium hosts a variety of cultural events, including plays, dance performances, and music concerts.

Sangeet Natak Akademi: This is the national academy for music, dance, and drama in India, and its branch in Lucknow is active in promoting theatre and other performing arts.

Theatre Groups and Festivals

Theatre Groups: Lucknow is home to numerous theatre groups, such as IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association) Lucknow, Darpan Theatre Group among others. These groups are known for their innovative productions and dedication to the craft.