Dhoop Chaoon stages ‘Ek Naav mein Sawaar,’ an online play
(Left) Dhoop Chaoon announces its e-Skit, Ek Naav Mein Sawaar
Dhoop Chaoon, an Atlanta-based Hindi theater group, which has been entertaining theater audiences for the past 13 years, responding to the new realities of our times, creatively transitioned online so that the show goes on.
(Bottom) Zoom session of Ek Naav Mein Sawaar: First row (L to R) Ritambhara Mittal, Asha Gupta, Sandhya Saxena Bhagat – Founder Director Dhoop Chaoon, Bollywood actor Manu Rishi; Second row (L to R) Chandra Oad, Zohra Master, Premanand and Sumona Goswami, Preeti; Third row (L to R) Poornima Raj, Sachin Bapat, Sabyasachi Mittal, Anil Kanwal Bhagat
The much-awaited annual show of Dhoop Chaoon, which usually takes place in May, had to be canceled this year due to the current crisis. Amidst such disappointment rose the idea of an e-Natak (e-Play)–where the show could go on, albeit in a modified format. The brainchild of founder director, Sandhya Saxena Bhagat, and fellow team member, Ritambhara Mittal, this concept evinced a lot of excitement within the group. During a lot of brainstorming and endless Zoom meetings, various ideas were discussed, technologies were evaluated, and scripts were written and vetted.
Finally, the play was ready. The group decided to use “social media BFFs”—Zoom and TikTok—to make a series of short skits that conveyed the effect of this pandemic in a very personalized and intimate way. Sandhya Saxena Bhagat, director and writer of this e-Natak, attempted to showcase unique perspectives that are currently being experienced in everyday pandemic life. Some skits were humorous while others conveyed a strong social message.
Technical support staff and fellow actors, led by the “all in one,” Ritambhara Mittal, and ably supported by Mohammad Assani, Premanand Goswami, and Harsheal Nemade, ensured that everyone got comfortable using TikTok and Zoom, and helped in shooting, and later editing and stitching the videos together.
This e-Natak aptly titled Ek Naav mein Sawaar (All in the Same Boat), was screened over Zoom, and was inaugurated by Bollywood actor and theatre artist, Manu Rishi Chadha who applauded the effort, creativity, and hard work of the team.
The adage goes, “When the world is a mess, go inside and discover yourself”. And that is exactly what the team at Dhoop Chaoon did! This unique presentation by the artists of Dhoop Chaoon pushed the frontiers of theatre and showed that anything is possible when there is positivity, creativity, and enthusiasm.
The participants included Akila Giridharan, Anil Kanwal Bhagat, Asha Gupta, Chandra Oad, Johra Master, Kamlesh Chugh, Muhammed Assani, Neev Kamal Seedani , Premanand Goswami, Poornima Raj, Ritambhara Mittal, Shankar Mahadevan, and Sumana Goswami.
| Remember, we have new Website Bonus Features that are not in the print magazine. Every time you see the W symbol in the print magazine, you can go to our website to see additional print or audiovisual material! |
|
Submitting your report for consideration in Around Town Please send post event reports for consideration in the Around Town section to AroundTown@khabar.com. Publication of reports is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. Guidelines for the reports are on our website at http://www.khabar.com/magazine/around-town/guidelines_for_submitting_reports_to_around_town. Deadline: 15th of each month—for consideration in the following month. However, chances of inclusion are better if reports are received well in advance of the deadline – where possible, e.g. within 3-7 days of the event |
|
Submitting your news item for consideration in Newsmakers Please send news items for consideration in the Newsmakers section to CommunityNewsmakers@khabar.com. Publication of news is based on several criteria including the volume of reports submitted for a given issue. We are focusing on local community members with some achievement or award that will be interesting and/or inspiring to our readers. |
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
