Weekend of socially relevant plays to mark Prithvi theatre fest

New Delhi, Dec 1 (UNI) An enthralling treat of socially relevant plays from across the country is in store for Delhiites this weekend! Bringing to Delhiites an array of theatre from across the country, focussing on various social topics of the day, will be the Prithvi Theatre Festival beginning in the capital tomorrow.

On show at the two-day festival, being held on the occasion of the birth centenary of the late Prithviraj Kapoor, will be six theatre productions from across India that ''speak vibrantly, passionately and often with incisive humour to the concerns of our times''.

Inspired by the motto of Prithviraj Kapoor's Prithvi theatres - 'Kala Desh Ki Seva Mein', the festival, to be held at the Kamani Auditorium in the capital, will begin with the Marathi play 'Ram Prahar', based on Vijay Tendulkar's column.

Directed by Sandesh Kulkarni, 'Ram Prahar' is a dramatic representation of the post-1991 times of Babri Masjid destruction and the Mumbai blasts.

Speaking at a press meet to announce the festival, Sanjana Kapoor, the granddaughter of Prithviraj Kapoor, said the festival was their tribute to the late actor ''who has been motivating and guiding us in promoting art and culture''.

''Two years ago, my father Shashi Kapoor reminded me that 2006 was Prithviraj Kapoor's birth centenary and asked me how I planned to commemmorate it,''she said.

''In a way, this festival is a continuation of Prithviraj Kapoor's efforts to preserve the art form of theatre as a medium to serve the country. Infact, this was the guiding spirit behind the launching of Prithvi Theatres by him in 1944, at a time when he was at the height of his film career.

''For 16 continuous years, Prithviraj Kapoor travelled with his theatre company in various parts of the country - from cities to small towns in remote areas - to stage plays on pressing topics of the day,''Sanjana said.

It was in memory of his extraordinary dedication and passion for theatre that Shashi Kapoor revived Prithvi Theatre in 1978, which was run for many years by his wife Jennifer Kapoor. Subsequently Shashi Kapoor's daughter Sanjana took the responsibility to keep aloft the 'flame' of Prithvi theatres.

''Through this festival, we hope to make the small proportion of the public that would rather watch a movie develop an interest in theatre,''she said.

The festival is being organised by Prithvi Theatres in association with the telecom major Hutchinson. Hutch has been presenting the Prithvi theatre festivals since 1997 and has supported all artistic activity under the aegis of Prithvi theatre.

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