Jammu, May 3:Balwant Thakur’s Hindi play ‘AAG’ staged here today under Natrang’s weekly theatre series ‘Sunday Theatre’ at Natrang Studio Theatre, Jammu under the direction of Neeraj Kant. The play showcases how the Drug-menace is ruining the generations and thus crippling the developing nations. The youth of the country, the most energetic human resource of the country, sometimes unknowingly slip into the world of drug-addicts. Inspired by the 100-day anti-drug campaign led by Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor J&K Government, Natrang has given a powerful new dimension to the movement by spreading awareness through theatre. Balwant Thakur, who has specially written this play to address the growing drug menace, emphasized on the occasion that theatre remains one of the most compelling mediums for engaging audiences. He stated that Natrang’s production Aag is designed to carry this vital message into every home across Jammu & Kashmir. He further expressed confidence that anyone who watches the play will feel deeply inspired, to the extent of becoming an ambassador for the cause and actively volunteering to raise awareness and sensitize others in society

The play was not based on one story-line but as an experiment multiple stories were woven by the playwright in one theme focusing the spread of drug menace like a fire, taking the toll of the important work force of the country. In a sequence a young boy is shown struggling for a good company after his passing of the school and entry in the college. He is isolated for not being the consumer of intoxications. All around him treat him like a child which really frustrates him and to prove that he has grown-up as a young man now, he finds the easiest way and demonstrates his coming of age by consuming a variety of intoxications. In another sequence a rural inhabitation particularly the men-folk is shown drowned in the menace of alcohol. All the miseries of the village like poverty, domestic violence, and ailments are attributed to the growing consumption of alcohol in the village. In a sequence the daily routine of a villager is shown who consumes the whole of his daily earnings for alcohol. Having drunk he has lost his way home. By the time a local escorts him to his place where in the middle of the night the drunken man starts beating his sleeping wife and kids for not receiving him on his arrival. When the escort intervenes to save the poor lady and children, he is blamed for having bad intentions towards his wife. This fight further messes up when a drunken man after losing senses damages his household property as well. The play unfolds a series of incidents where people influenced by drugs, alcohol and other intoxications create hell for themselves as well as for others. Many precious lives are being charred in this fire of drug menace which is to be fought unitedly. Through this play Balwant Thakur has tried to make an appeal to save mankind from this dragon.
Actors who outshined in their respective performances and left an impact of their acting included Neeraj Kant, Brijesh Avtar Sharma, Mahikshit Singh Aadesh Dhar, Vishal Sharma, Mihir Gujral and Kananpreet Kour. The presentations of the play were done by Soujanya Shekhar and the show was coordinated by Mohd. Yaseen.