New Delhi :  With eminent Urdu writer Krishan Chander in special focus, the second day of the Urdu Drama Festival saw the staging of ‘Darwaza Khol Do’, a play written by him and directed by Shri Sheikh Khairuddin.

Presented by Urdu Academy and Delhi Government’s Department of Art, Culture & Languages, the 25th Urdu Drama Festival (under Delhi Celebrates 2013) that opened yesterday will run for six days with every evening bringing a new play for the audience.

The drama festival is dedicated to the literary genius of Krishan Chander, one of the greatest writers born in pre independence India who is revered on both sides of the divide in the Indian subcontinent. The short stories and novels of this prolific Urdu writer, including the much popular “Autobiography of a Donkey” are a rich treasure. Three plays written by him will also feature in the festival.

Stories and tales are an extension of life. Language is just a medium of narration. However, each language adds its own nuances and cultural baggage to a story tellers’ tale. At the Urdu Drama Festival some of Urdu languages best plays will be put on stage.

The six day festival was inaugurated yesterday by noted playwright and critic, Shri Reoti Saran Sharma, in the presence of Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, Vice-Chairman, Urdu Academy, Shri S. S. Yadav, Secretary, (Art, Culture and Languages), and Commissioner, Food & Civil Supplies, Govt. of Delhi and Mr Anis Azmi, Secretary, Urdu Academy.

“Plays bring out the best of a literature and like stories and novels carry an essence of the richness of a culture. While stories and plays are but a reflection of human life and emotions, each language adds its own color to a form of theater. Urdu literature has a rich tradition of plays and through a drama festival we hope to stage them for the audience. Through the festival we are also playing tributes to Shri Krishan Chander, the legendary Urdu writer who has brilliantly captured the images of his time in his writings,” says Shri Anis Azmi, Secretary, Urdu Academy.

In the upcoming days four more plays will be staged for the audience including Shri Krishan Chander’s classics ‘Ek Qalam Sadak Kinaare’ to be directed by Rajesh Singh and ‘Hum to Mohabbat Karega’ directed by Krishan Kant.

The other plays that will be staged are ‘Halal Khor’, directed by Govind Singh Yadav, adapted by Dr Mumtaz Alam; Maha Laxmi ka Pul, under the direction and adaptation of Rajesh Tiwari.

Source :  Saurabh omer