Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Nov 15
Director Natrang Balwant Thakur formally launched the HD version of the DVD of film ‘Gulab Gatha’ here today at Natrang studio Theatre Jammu in an exclusive function. A presentation of Natrang Jammu and a production of Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust, Gulab Gatha written and directed by Balwant Thakur is the first Hindi film on the creation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the occasion, Natrang Director Balwant Thakur informed that this film will now be available at the souvenir shop of Amar Mahal and at the office of Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust, Gulab Bhawan, Jammu. At the very out set Balwant Thakur thanked Dr. Karan Singh Chairman Trustee Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust for supporting this historic endeavor of Natrang which will be remembered by generations for it’s highly educative value and the quality work both in terms of acting levels and technical standards.
The film ‘Gulab Gatha’ is about the journey of a soldier who achieves great success at everything he initiated. His unquestionable obligatory obedience towards Lahore Durbar, his unconditional sacrifice and his conception of a kingdom has been regarded and given value in this film. Gulab Singh was the founder of royal Dogra rule and first crowned Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, the largest princely state in British India which was created after the defeat of the Lahore Darbar in the Anglo-Sikh war. The greatness of leaders is not just in their works but in the way they have been appreciated and personified in the eyes of the people.
His sacrifices were immense. He lost two of his sons and two brothers in the conspiracies against him and there have been occasions when he was virtually killed by the enemies but he survived all attacks. Napoleon was a military and political hero of France and Alexander has been applauded for his greatness for his conquest. Gulab Singh as an emperor held the same qualities of being a courageous warrior.
He was a normal person with no lineage of royalty but he established himself as a King with the help of his bravery and continued to keep a hold on his empire because of his well-planned strategic and diplomatic intelligence.
The most noteworthy part of the film was the dynamic acting by the local artists who simply created a magic on screen with their highly professional performances. Sunil Kumar Palwal a meritorious pass out of FTII and popular TV/Film actor has done a great job in portraying different shades of the life of Maharaja Gulab Singh. The lead lady of the film is played by Gauri Thakur. The prominent amongst others who gave remarkable performances included Arvind Anand, Madan Rangeela, Sudhir Jamwal, Suresh Kumar, Janak Khajuria, Anil Tickoo, Sanjeev Gupta, Neeraj Kant, Vijay Bhat, Subash Jamwal, Sumeet Sharma, Gaurav Jamwal, Rahul Singh, Aftab Singh Chauhan, Meera Tapasvi, Aarushi Thakur Rana, Brijesh Avtaar Sharma, Lalit Kumar, Aman Sharma, Akshay Razdan, Kanav Sharma, Jatin Sharma, Brighu Sharma, Sumeet Raina, Naresh Kumar, Udit Sagar, Sushant Singh Charak, Vanshika Gupta, Sanket Bhagat and Shivam Sharma.
Balwant Thakur’s creative team prominently include Maloop Singh, Sanjay Kumar, Neeraj Badyal, Mohd. Yaseen, Kamal Sharma, Shivam Singh, Aftab Singh Chauhan and Aarushi Thakur Rana.
