As a socially conscious artist steeped in the humanistic artistic credo of Indian People's Theatre Association , Rekha Jain (1924-2010) decided to work for children's aesthetic development through theatre and formed Umang in Delhi in 1979. With her experience in dancing, choreography and acting, she devoted her life in evolving a truly children's theatre that is entertaining and educating, accessible to children belonging to different classes. Winning accolades from leading cultural bodies including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, she transformed Umang as an institution striving for high artistic quality infused with relevant social content as a dramatic focus.
It is heartening to witness that even after Rekha Jain’s demise in 2010, Umang is not only carrying forward her artistic legacy but continuing to enrich children's theatre movement in the country which is slowly coming of age. Among various activities undertaken by Umang, its annual theatre workshop culminating in a dramatic presentation has become an important theatrical event for children. This year’s workshop production entitled “Sa Re Ga Ma Tak Dhina, Dhin”, which was presented this past week at Shri Ram Centre, is yet another feather in its cap.
Rekha Jain
Visual beauty
Written and conceptualised by Rekha Jain, the play is directed by Harish Verma. Visually beautiful, the production conveys the message that music is an essential part for the moral and aesthetic growth of children. Adopting an innovative format, the complexities of music is interpreted in an interesting manner through visuals and music that children in the audience loved to watch with curiosity. Ragas on the stage as human characters tell the audience about their evolution. The play opens on a playful mood with two groups of children debating about their hobbies. Meanwhile, Narad arrives on the scene, explains to children about the wonderful history of music as a vital performing art form.
In the process the audience is acquainted with elements that go in the creation of enchanting fantasy world of music. The production is replete with melodious music and beautiful dances with simple but lyrical steps executed by children performers. In the course of adventurous journey, children come across evil forces that are determined to destroy music from the lives of the people. A demon makes all the ragas her prisoners and consigns them all to a dungeon. The colourful world is transformed into a shabby and dark one. The director has imaginatively treated this scene to illustrate that without music human life becomes meaningless. The enemies of music should not be allowed to succeed in their heinous design and should be resisted unitedly. When children wandering in the joyous land of music suddenly find that the life-affirming music is dying, the bold and intelligent children manage to rescue ragas and the world once again comes to life with all its splendour.
Universal language
One of the important aspects of the production is that music is not just expressed through ragas and instruments but it exudes from human labour which creates this world with all its rich life-affirming force. It is also illustrated that the language of music is universal which transcends linguistic barriers.
In fact, music in theatre is basically used to create the right ambience for action and to evoke mood. It is often used to interpret the content. Arguably, music in the format of characters in the children's theatre is used for the first time by Rekha Jain.
An all-round theatre artist, dancer and instrumentalist, Verma has the opportunity to be associated with Umang since 1986 under the inspiring direction of Rekha Jain. Handling with competence, his large cast consisted of children of varying age groups who perform with effortless manner, enjoying, establishing a lively rapport with children and parents in the auditorium.
Earlier, this year's prestigious Rekha Jain Bal Rang Samman, which was instituted by Rekha Jain herself in 2009 to honour outstanding directors in the field of children's theatre, was conferred on Prem Gupta from Bhopal.
