Sampoorna Natak : Bhishm Sahani : Vols. 12

Complete Plays: Volume 1 Bhisham Sahnis relationship with theatre wasnt just that of a playwright. He was involved in every aspect of it. He acted, tried his hand at directing, and established himself as a playwright by writing nearly half a dozen original plays. This book includes those plays by Bhisham. These plays, rich in stage-appropriate craft and communicativeness, are also creative and interventionist in their narrative. Hanush, whose primary objective is to highlight the oppressive nature of power and call for freedom for the creator, came out at a time when the country was going through the Emergency. The story of Muavaze depicts the social and administrative distortions of a city ravaged by communal riots. In Kabir Khada Bazaar Mein, Alamgir, Rang De Basanti Chola, and Madhavi, based on a story from the Mahabharata, Bhisham Sahni has not ignored the needs and challenges of his time. All the plays included in this collection, balancing both meaningfulness and stage appeal, set a standard for contemporary playwrights. Bhishma Jis famous article, Theatre and I, included in the book, is a special highlight. Complete Plays: Volume 2: Dawat, Aham Brahmasmi, Khoon Ka Rishta, and Saag-Meetmany of these stories represent Bhisham Sahnis invaluable contribution to Hindi fiction. Written with a sharp, progressive perspective on the ironies of middle-class life and mentality, his stories created a unique world of sensibility. This second volume of Bhisham Sahnis complete plays focuses on theatrical adaptations of some of his most famous stories. He himself created these adaptations for radio, some for television, and some of the radio adaptations were later broadcast on television. Today, when Story Theatre has become a significant activity in contemporary Hindi theater, reading these adaptations from a stage perspective is a unique experience. In these adaptations, the storyteller-playwright Bhisham Sahni himself has made clear how to capture the dramatic essence of a story and how to transform it into a lively play. The stories whose theatrical adaptations are included in this volume are Dawat, Saag-Meet, Aham Brahmasmi, Nimitta, Khilone, Voices, Jhumar, Jhutputa, Tomb of Shah Sher Ali, Gango Ka Jaya, Khoon Ka Rishta, Samadhi Bhai Ram Singh, Tadgati, and Kanthaar. It is hoped that readers will find these dramatic versions of familiar stories, presented by the storyteller himself, useful and excellent.