Under the 'Abhinayan' series of new theatre experiments organised every Friday at the Madhya Pradesh State Tribal Museum, a Hindi play ‘Ghar ke Laaj’ was performed on Friday.
This drama of Chhattisgarhi background was staged by the artists of Sangam Natya Samiti, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) and was directed by Manharan Gandharva.
Various aspects of the family have been shown in drama with great beauty. The central character of the play is Lakshmi. Lakshmi is tortured by her mother-in-law as she is unable to conceive after few months of her marriage.
One day Lakshmi's mother-in-law asks her son to leave Lakshmi in the forest. Wandering in the forest, she meets the police officer of the village, who brings her back to the village. Kotwal calls the Panchayat in the village and keeps the injustice happening with Lakshmi in front of the panch. But Laxmi lies in front of Panch to save the shame of her house and conceals the mistakes of her mother-in-law and husband.
Seeing this, the family regrets their actions. They asks for forgiveness from Lakshmi and brings her back home.
The play was beautified with Chhattisgarhi songs. The story of drama reflects the exploitation of the male-dominated society, the atrocities faced with women, the physical and mental harassment being done on them. The play was loved by the audience as it left an impact over them and think over the issues still harming the personality of a woman living with her in-laws. The light and sound blend added zest in the performance.