Antraal Theatre presents "Udney Ko Aakash Chahiye" Hindi Play at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ( IITD ), Hauz Khas > 6:30pm on 12th September 2010

Time : 6:30 pm

Entry : Free

Place : Seminar Hall, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi ( IITD ), Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110 016

Venue Info : Events | About | Map
Set Attending / Not Attending status below :

Event Details : Antraal Theatre presents its next stage play, ‘’Udney Ko Aakash Chahiye’’. It shows the ways in which the Indian middle class family, living its secluded life in the city is undergoing a crisis.
We see Arvind trying to appease his family in their expectations of a Chartered Accountant's salaried life, and trying to keep up his passion for dance. His best friend, Manik, is, on the other hand, someone who has been able to break away from the cudgels of a routine life, and follow his calling to be a journalist. Their daily routine ends in a street corner tea shop, run by Chaman chaiwallah, who understands their struggles to meet their aspirations. The tea shop is the meeting place of other faces of the middle class: Professor Waghle who has been theorizing revolution for twenty years, for his young students; Doctor Vinay Gupta, who will seek out a long bill of medication, even in a perfectly healthy person.
Working in a high-profile newspaper officer, Manik decides to stroll through a part of Delhi's underbelly, the jhuggi that he lives near to, where the construction workers and laborers reside. The encounter opened another way of life, which he reported about. His article angers the mayor as it could upset his chances in the impending elections. It turns out that Manik's editor-in-chief, Mr. Singhvi stands by him. He reminds the mayor that he should have kept up his regular funding for Singhvi to be acting strong on Manik. It is decided that Singhvi will be appeased with an apartment in the flats that are being constructed for the upcoming Games. Turns out, that Manik, who was expecting a suspension letter, is awarded a promotion, with the warning that he passes any future 'risky' article through his boss. Meanwhile, we see Arvind's family plot his marriage according to the market value that their son can fetch in the dowry bazaar. The 'deal' falls through when Aravind announces that he has quit his job.
Manik is also thrown out when he tested his boss's 'noble' intentions, by printing another article on Delhi slums. Together, Manik and Aravind pick up the pieces and start afresh, albeit running the risk of failure and penury. Manik starts his small one-pager and Arvind starts teaching dance to whoever wished to learn!
But an unexpected turn occurs, with a freak accident which leaves Arvind with a leg fracture. In the aftermath of the accident, his family repented their sustained cold attitude towards his passion. The play ends here, by showing that the middle class needs to look within itself to transform society. It needs to give up its search for security and look instead, for a fulfilling life in pursuit of the tiny bit of blue sky which will help them fly. The play has sixteen scenes.

About the Group : Antraal is a group of theatre enthusiasts, running since 2007. Anyone interested in performance can join in, age, occupation, gender no bar. Our performances have been covered by newspapers like Hindustan Times and Mail Today.
Visit us at antraltheatre.blogspot.com

Duration : 80 mins.

Written by : Azam Quadri

Directed by : Akbar Quadri

Related Events : Theatre | HindiUrduPlays