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Manav Kaul’s play on dreamy romance a flashback for Delhi viewers

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New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) The bittersweet, nostalgic story of three friends whose love life revolved around handwritten letters, bicycles, and meetings — agreed to after much prodding by peers — with equally shy girls next door, reminded the viewers of bygone times in play “Prem Kabootar” staged here as part of an ongoing theatre festival.

Performed to a packed house at the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts (SRCPA) here on Sunday evening for the eight-day Panna Bharat Ram Theatre Festival, “Prem Kabootar” is a light-hearted play written by thespian-filmmaker Manav Kaul.

Kaul was nominated at the 63rd Filmfare awards for best supporting actor for 2017 film “Tumhari Sulu”.

The two-hour comedy, peppered with moments of uproarious laughter by the spectators, might be simple and without too many plot twists, but that is exactly what made it relatable.

The characters, sporting high-waisted bell-bottoms, shiny shirts and haircuts inspired by what Bollywood figures got photographed in that month, take us few decades back.

When Saleem, the tailor receives his first letter from his sweetheart Meenakshi; or when Suneel, an ardent follower of Hindi films, agrees to write a love letter on behalf of his tea-seller friend Raju, only to find the writer inside him, they become reminiscent of memories most people would find within themselves.

The dreamy love affair, in an age with no dating apps, takes one to the “era of school days, teenage love affairs, romance in the air and enthusiastically following the heroes, heroines and even the story-lines of Hindi Cinema”.

“There was a time of no social media, but just feelings. If you had to say something to someone, you had to go to their house, pursue for weeks or say it through friends. The human feelings of love and desire are still the same today,” the play’s director Sameep Singh, an NSD graduate and currently the repertory chief in SRCPA, told IANS.

Asked how he adapted Kaul’s story for the proscenium, Singh said: “Kaul did write it as a story, but even while dramatising, I’ve tried to retain the flavour of a story. There are additions to scenes, for instance Kaul wrote just a line in the dream sequence saying ‘I saw her in my dreams’, but I’ve developed it fully as a scene.”

The theatre festival gained traction on just its second day, after “Prem Kabootar” and another powerful play “Tughlaq” written by Girish Karnad and directed by K. Madavane.

Also lined up are plays “Arsenic and Old Lace”, “Dadu”,”Kala Suraj Safed Sayee”,”Poem of an Ending” (based on “Shesher Kobita” by Rabindranath Tagore). The week-long theatrical retreat will end on Friday with “Agni aur Barkha”. Tickets for the productions are available online at www.bookmyshow.com or at the venue for Rs 200, 300 and 400.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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