Chandigarh, April 26
Shoolini University’s vibrant theatre wing, Shoolini Creative Studio, captivated audiences with its latest production Naatak Paracetamol—an adaptation of Molière’s iconic comedy – The Doctor in Spite of Himself. The play was staged at the Tagore Theatre, here today.
Directed by Ankur Bashar, a seasoned theatre practitioner and Assistant Professor of Performing Arts at Shoolini University, the play is a witty, high-energy satire that pokes fun at blind faith in doctors and the absurdities of societal norms.
Naatak Paracetamol follows the comically twisted tale of Sganarelle, a woodcutter who is mistakenly believed to be a doctor. Through a series of outrageous circumstances involving deception, mistaken identity, and social critique, the play unfolds with themes as relevant today as in Molière’s time—touching on domestic violence, access to education, and socio-economic divides.
“This year, we chose comedy as a political act,” and, “In today’s world, the comic is often political and the political, deeply comic. Molière’s work continues to mirror the hypocrisies of modern society, making it ideal for a student-led performance that is both engaging and thought-provoking”, said Ankur Bashar.
Backed by a talented ensemble of students, the play featured Samarth Singh Thakur, Abhijit Nair, Dakksh Parekh, Rajat Sharma, Dibansee Rana, Sunidhi Deo, Lakshmi Vasundhara Mamidi, and many more in lively roles. The musical direction was helmed by Abhijit Nair and Lakshmi Vasundhara, with original compositions performed live by student musicians.
The creative team included Sunidhi Deo and Ankur Bashar for set design, Ujjwal Kumar on lights, and Khushi Maheshwari as choreographer. The production was managed by Prashant Kumar, with costumes and murals by Shibani.
