Encapsulating the flavour of Lucknow, Patangbaaz is a play which explores the aspiration and dreams of three young boys from the city who want to do the unthinkable — fly kites throughout their lives. Lucknow exudes royalty with its Nawabi culture and language but there also exists a colloquial form of this language spoken by the youth in the city, as evident in the script.
Actor Factor Theatre Company presents this hour-long play Patangbaaz which is written and directed by Shashwat Srivastava from Lucknow.
Explaining the concept of this play, Shashwat says: 'Basically the play revolves around the life of three school boys, who are around 17 to 18 years old. I have tried to capture some glimpses of Lucknow through this play. The play is inspired from my personal experiences in this city where I have grown up. It focuses on the idea of how passionate people can be about what they want in their life and to what extent they can go to to achieve it. The play highlights the conviction of these three boys who want to fly kites against all odds.'
According to Shashwat, the play celebrates the human spirit of freedom. These young boys constantly keep making efforts, while everyone starting from their family as well the tyrant school principal is against them flying kites, but they fight this battle and finally do what they want to.
'Eventually they decide to give up everything possible to pursue their passion for flying kites,' elucidates the playwright.
The three school boys — Gopal, Mohan and Govind — dream of participating in Lucknow's coveted Gomati Kite Flying tournament. Possessing a deep passion for kite flying, they ardently follow the festival and want to participate in it. They intensely discuss the contestants in the competition — Lakhna Dacoit and Kantha Pandey — the most dreaded kites in the contest.
But to find their space in the sky, they must fight the barriers which society poses on them. The play highlights their fight with the social constraints which stop them from enjoying this sport.
In this combative task, they even end up stealing kites from a local vendor and are then thrashed by their school's principal. Finally, they decide to risk everything and live their dream.
DETAIL
At: Studio Safdar, Shadi Khampur, New Ranjit Nagar
When: 25 November
Timings: 7.30 pm
Actor Factor Theatre Company presents this hour-long play Patangbaaz which is written and directed by Shashwat Srivastava from Lucknow.
Explaining the concept of this play, Shashwat says: 'Basically the play revolves around the life of three school boys, who are around 17 to 18 years old. I have tried to capture some glimpses of Lucknow through this play. The play is inspired from my personal experiences in this city where I have grown up. It focuses on the idea of how passionate people can be about what they want in their life and to what extent they can go to to achieve it. The play highlights the conviction of these three boys who want to fly kites against all odds.'
According to Shashwat, the play celebrates the human spirit of freedom. These young boys constantly keep making efforts, while everyone starting from their family as well the tyrant school principal is against them flying kites, but they fight this battle and finally do what they want to.
'Eventually they decide to give up everything possible to pursue their passion for flying kites,' elucidates the playwright.
The three school boys — Gopal, Mohan and Govind — dream of participating in Lucknow's coveted Gomati Kite Flying tournament. Possessing a deep passion for kite flying, they ardently follow the festival and want to participate in it. They intensely discuss the contestants in the competition — Lakhna Dacoit and Kantha Pandey — the most dreaded kites in the contest.
But to find their space in the sky, they must fight the barriers which society poses on them. The play highlights their fight with the social constraints which stop them from enjoying this sport.
In this combative task, they even end up stealing kites from a local vendor and are then thrashed by their school's principal. Finally, they decide to risk everything and live their dream.
DETAIL
At: Studio Safdar, Shadi Khampur, New Ranjit Nagar
When: 25 November
Timings: 7.30 pm