A play as a tribute to Gulab Bai staged in Lucknow

Recently a musical play based on the life and achievements of Padma Shri Gulab Bai, a nautanki artist, was staged at Sangeet Natak Akademi. Under the direction of Urmil Kumar Thapliyal, the musical biopic narration titled '

Aurat Ki Jung

' showcased the tribulations and hardships faced by Gulab Bai as a woman.
Sanyukta Bhatia, Mayor of Lucknow, graced the occasion as the chief guest while Padma Shri Raj Bisaria, founder of Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts and Poornima Pandey, chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademy were the guests of honour for the evening.

(L) Sanyukta Bhatia (R)

Veena Thapliyal and Urmil Kumar Thapliyal

(BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)

While Amrita Pal was Gulab Bai as a kid, Neetu Pant essayed her younger version and Archana Shukla the middle-aged Gulab Bai.

(L) Anil Rastogi (R) JK Mehrotra (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)

"The main purpose of staging this play was to revive the work of Gulab Bai in the minds of the people. A message of women empowerment was also promoted through this play," shared Anil Rastogi.
Remembering his encounter with Gulab Bai, Raj Bisaria said, "I have met her personally and to portray her style of singing and dancing is very difficult. She is unique in her own ways."
— Prachi Arya

(L)

Kanak Rekha Chauhan

(C)

Prof Raj Bisaria

(R) Poonam Soni (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)

Shreya Awasthi and Ajay Sharma (BCCL/ Aditya Yadav)