Udaipur, January 5: The monthly theatre evening ‘Rangshala’, organized by the West Zone Cultural Centre (WZCC) in Udaipur, witnessed a packed audience and roaring laughter with the performance of the satirical play ‘Gadhe Ki Baraat’ on Sunday. Through humor and satire, the play highlighted the stark divide between the rich and the poor. The brilliant performance by the artists left the spectators thoroughly entertained.
Furkan Khan, Director of WZCC, said that ‘Rangshala’ is a regular monthly feature aimed at promoting theatrical performances. This month’s play was staged at the Darpan Auditorium in Shilpgram, presented by the Saptak Cultural Society, Rohtak, marking its 345th performance. Previously, the play has been staged at prestigious venues, including Lahore (Pakistan), Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) Masoori, and National School of Drama (NSD) Delhi.
A Satirical Take on Social Inequality
The satirical narrative depicted how anyone who manages to reach the royal palace never returns to their humble roots, abandoning their fellow poor brethren. Written by Haribhai Vadgaonkar and directed by Vishwadeepak Trikha, the play effectively captured the audience’s attention with its witty dialogues and engaging storyline.
Art lovers praised the outstanding performances by the cast, with every character bringing life to the play’s theme. The evening concluded with a felicitation ceremony for the performers, conducted by Durgesh Chandwani, Assistant Director (Finance & Accounts) of WZCC.
Cast and Crew Details
- Kallu – Avinash
- Gangi – Parul
- King & Baba – Surendra
- Diwanji – Tarun Pushp Trikha
- Indra – Shakti Swaroop Trikha
- Chitrasen – Amit Sharma
- Gatekeeper – Anil
- Princess – Khushi
- Bua – Prerna
- Baraatis – Nalinakshi, Choti Bai, Vanshika
- Harmonium – Vikas Rohila
- Nagada – Subhash Nagada
Synopsis of the Play
The story begins with Kallu, a potter, and his wife Gangi, constantly bickering. Gangi repeatedly urges Kallu to bring home a donkey. Eventually, Kallu gives in and sets out to fetch a donkey. On his way, he encounters Guru Brihaspati, who, after much insistence, takes him to Indra’s court.
In Indra’s court, Kallu witnesses an amusing event where Chitrasen, a celestial being, holds the hand of the nymph Rambha in jest, which enrages King Indra. As punishment, Indra curses Chitrasen to live on earth as a donkey. However, upon Chitrasen’s plea for forgiveness, Indra grants him a boon that he will be freed from the curse once he marries the daughter of King Chaupat Singh of Andher Nagari.
Chitrasen, now transformed into a donkey, ends up living among Kallu’s donkeys. One day, King Chaupat Singh announces that whoever builds a bridge connecting the royal palace to the poor settlement overnight will be allowed to marry his daughter, Princess Chandni. Using his wit, Kallu manages to arrange the marriage between his donkey (Chitrasen) and the princess. As soon as the princess garlands the donkey, Chitrasen is freed from the curse and transforms back into a celestial being. However, Chitrasen, now a gentrified noble, refuses to recognize Kallu and Gangi.
The play ends on a bittersweet note as the king, pleased with a celestial being as his son-in-law, orders Kallu and his wife to be thrown out of the palace.
Audience Reaction
The humor, sharp dialogues, and social message of ‘Gadhe Ki Baraat’ received immense appreciation from the audience. Many were left contemplating the deeper meaning of the play, which highlighted how wealth and power can change a person’s values.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.