LSS bringing Punjabi play – Loona based on Bhagat Puran story on Nov 2

Ludhiana, October 29, 2019: Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam (LSS) is bringing Punjabi Play – Loona based on Bhagat Puran story; on 2nd of November 2019 at 7.30 pm in Guru Nanak Bhawan, Ludhiana. Giving further details at a press conference here today, Mr SK Rai, General Secretary, LSS, Mr Hemant Sood, Hampton Homes, Mr Amrit Nagpal Vice President LSS, Mr Onkar Singh Pahwa, MD Avon Cycles and Mr Sanjay Gupta LSS Executive Member added that the play is written by the legend Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi and directed by Kuldip Sharma who has rich experience of 40 years in theatre in Delhi, Punjab & Chandigarh. Duration of the play is 2 hours 10 minutes, they said, adding that “after a long time we bring a Punjabi play which has won accolade across the country and abroad”. There are 32 artists in the troupe. Cast includes TV and film artists like Kuldip Sharma (Raja Salwan), Amit Talwar (Raja Varman), Rajni Bajaj (Rani Kunt), Vimmi Bhullar (Rani Ichhran), Varun Sharma (Puran Bhagat), Mridula Mahajan (Loona), Karan Gulzar. Design & Direction has been done by Kuldip Sharma, music by Atul Sharma, choreography by Dr.Sameera Koser and dramatization by Karan Gulzar. ABOUT ARTISTS Kuldip Sharma (Raja Salwan) is famous TV and film artist. Many Films to his credit; like Mamla Garbar Hai, Aasra Payar Da, Machhis, Deewane, Gaddar, TV play like Flop Show, Full Tension, Acted in TV plays of Doordarshan Delhi and Jalandhar for more than 10 years, Hum Paanch, Yes Boss, Chupke Chupke, Shararat etc….. Atul Sharma (Music Director) - is a multiple award winning, music composer, producer, satirist, singer and judge on the popular TV show "Voice of Punjab". He is known for being one of the pioneers of Bhangra and Punjabi pop/folk music, has composed music for over 5000 music albums and many Punjabi and Hindi films. He has given many global hits like "Yaar Bolda", "Dupatta Tera Satt Rang Da", "Mukhda Dekh ke", "Jatti", "Mitraan Da Naa Chalda" etc. Dr. Samira Koser (Choreography) - PhD. in Psychology and dance, from Panjab University, Dr. Samira Koser is a Kathak dance exponent and a teacher par excellence, working in the field of applied Kathak and unfolding the cognitive angle of our classical arts and trying to connect Kathak Dance style to the young and tender minds of next generation. She has been a member of Sangeet Natak Academy Chandigarh and holding the prestigious post of Nritya Vidha Pramukh in Sanskar Bharti. Mridula Mahajan (LOONA) - Actress and Law Student, Worked in Punjabi Movies like: Rang Punjab, Aish kar lae,Vadahiyan ji Vadahiyan and TV Serial : Haunted Nights etc.. Varun Sharma (Bhagat Puran) - Doing Theatre in Chandigarh from last 8 years as an actor. Acted and been a part of many play productions like Taj Mahal ka tender, Loona, Rashtriya, Adhyay, Jeevit ya Mrit, , Parda uthne se pehle, Do Kabrein, Wo Andheri Raat, Gajj Futt Inch, Krishan Leela, Ram Leela, Ek ruka hua Faisla etc… and participated in 500+ street plays… Synopsis : Loona is a Punjabi epic verse play written by Shiv Kumar Batalvi based on the ancient legend of Puran Bhagat, this epic was bestowed with prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967, given by Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters), Shiv became the youngest recipient of this prestigious award. Though Loona is portrayed as a villain in the legend, Shiv created the epic around her agony which caused her to become a villain. The epic is based on the ancient legend of Saint Puran Bhagat (Bhagat is the Punjabi word for a saint, devotee). Puran is a prince whose mother has died and his father marries a girl named Loona, who's much younger than his age. Loona, the stepmother of Puran, gets attracted to Puran and conveys her feelings to him. Puran, being a devotee of God and having pure thoughts, refuses. Loona gets hurt and seeks the revenge by convincing his husband to send Puran to exile. In the legend, Loona is the villain. Shiv took a contrary view from the legend and created the epic around the pain of the teenage girl forcefully married to a man much older than his age and further, renounced by the man she fell in love with. This programme is co-sponsored by M/s FINDOC (Financial Services Group) and M/s Avon Cycles Limited.