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Mushtaq Kak’s play ‘Democracy in Heaven’ enthralls theater lovers

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 12/23/2013 3:02:29 PM

NEW DELHI, Dec 22: Internationally renowned theatre director Mushtaq Kak’s play ‘Democracy in Heaven’, presented in the Winter Theatre Festival organized by Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, New Delhi has enthralled theatre lovers of Delhi who are thronging to Shri Ram Centre in big numbers to watch this satirical performance,. More than 10 shows of the play have already been staged and on popular demand the play has now been included in the Winter Theatre Festival and was performed here today to jam-packed auditorium.
‘Democracy in Heaven’ is a satire on politics which depicts the belief systems and the negative practices of the so-called politicians who try to keep hold on our democratic system through their flattering tricks. They pose to be true icons of democracy, but that is only in words. They overrule the true objectives of democracy. Seen from a neutral perspective, the gimmicks of these politicians are a black farce of our times, full of humor and comedy.
The play has already been awarded the prestigious Habib Tanveer Rang Puraskaar for Outstanding Contribution in the field of Theatre by Raas Kala Manch, a reputed theatre organization of the country. This is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of theatre in the country and Mushtaq Kak is the first recipient of this award from J&K state.
Mushtaq Kak was born and brought up in Jammu and Kashmir. He has directed more than 100 plays including ‘Manto-Ba-Qalam Khud’, ‘Main Manto Hoon’, ‘Siyaah Hashiye’, ‘Kahani Kahani’ based on short stories by Saadat Hasan Manto. He moved to New Delhi nine years ago to take over the prestigious responsibility as Artistic Director of Shri Ram Centre and is one of the most successful theatre Directors from Jammu. He has been awarded Mahindra and Mahindra Award for Excellence in Theatre. His plays ‘Mahabrahman’. ‘Alladad’, ‘Kasturi Mrig’ and ‘Chekhov in My Life’ were judged best plays of Delhi for the year 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2005 respectively by Sahitya Kala Parishad, New Delhi. All these plays ware produced by SRC Repertory, One of his super hit plays with this team was ‘Dilli-6’ based on William Shakespeare’s ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’, ‘Ek Gadhe ki Atmakatha’ based on Krishan Chander’s famous Urdu novel, and ‘Kamloops ki Machliyan’ are his other successful plays.
He has received the awards for directing a number of plays including ‘Andha Yug’, ‘Ashad Ka Ek Din’ and ‘Pratibimb’ from J&K Academy of Art Culture & Languages. He has conducted theatre workshop for National School of Drama as well. Mushtaq has received both Junior as well as Senior Fellowship Awards from Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, New Delhi. He has also worked in feature films including ‘Hijack’, ‘Sikandar’, ‘Shahid’, ‘Kai Po Che’, ‘Mausam’, ‘Vishwaroopam’ I’ and ‘Vishwaroopam II’.