Lucknow: The second day of the State Theatre Festival organized by the Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi witnessed a lively and engaging performance of the popular comedy play “Dil Ki Dukaan”, which left the audience thoroughly entertained while delivering a meaningful message on patience and family harmony.
The two-day festival was organized under the cultural promotion vision of Yogi Adityanath and under the guidance of Jaiveer Singh. The event was held in collaboration with Lalit Narayan Mithila University at the Sant Gadge Ji Maharaj Auditorium on March 24 and 25.
The evening began with a ceremonial lamp lighting by Akademi Vice Chairperson Vibha Singh, senior theatre personality Anil Rastogi, and former IAS officer Ramesh Mishra.
A Comedy with a Message
The play “Dil Ki Dukaan”, written by Rajendra Kumar Sharma and directed by Ratan Singh Rathore, was staged by Kanpur-based theatre group Anubhuti Natya Unit. The story creatively explored the idea of a fictional shop where people could choose and replace hearts according to their desires—leading to humorous yet thought-provoking consequences.
Through multiple family situations, the play highlighted how imbalance in emotions—whether extreme miserliness, excessive affection, or forced spirituality—can disrupt relationships. Ultimately, the narrative emphasized that harmony and patience within families are key to a happy life.
Engaging Performances
The cast delivered impactful performances, with Murari Gaur as the miser Dhaniram, Ankita Chaudhary as his wife Rani, Shyam Manohar Tiwari as Mohan, Meet Kamal Dwivedi as Sarla, Yogendra Srivastava as Pritamlal, and Priya Verma as Chanda. Supporting roles by Waliullah Khan, Hansshikha, Akshay Inaemual Singh, and Shekhar Yadav added to the comic brilliance, leaving the audience in splits.
Strong Technical Execution
The stage design by Rakesh Sudhakar, lighting and sound by Kailash Srivastava, makeup by Sarita, and production management by Pradeep Mishra and Suchita Dubey were widely appreciated. Stage coordination by Shikha Uddhav also contributed to the smooth execution of the performance.
The festival, which opened with the inspirational play “Manjhi Re” on the first day, concluded on a high note, reaffirming the state’s commitment to promoting theatre and cultural expression.
