Hariyo Dhunga, a play adapted from the eponymous short story by Upendra Subba, is slated to open today, Dec 15, at Shilpee Theatre in Battisputali. Produced by the theatre company Gyan: Discover Yourself, the play is directed by Sunil Pokharel. 

The play will mark a second directorial this year for the veteran director; prior to this, Pokharel directed the play Jayamaya Aaphu Matrai Lekhapani Aaipugi, which was adapted from the short story by the Darjeeling-based author Indra Bahadur Rai. 

While Jayamaya told the story of Nepali refugees fleeing to Assam, India from Burma, Hariyo Dhunga is set to bring to stage the story of Bhutanese refugees. 

Director Pokharel said that Hariyo Dhunga had a personal connection to him. “I have been to the refugee camps and seen the conditions the residents have to live through.

So when I browsed through Subba’s anthology, I found Hariyo Dhunga the most affecting.”

Hariyo Dhunga is based on a true story of a family who find a green stone while working on a beach and how it invites division in the family. 

Hariyo Dhunga will also mark the theatrical comeback for actor Bipin Karki, the actor who, after learning the art of theatre at Gurukul, went on to win widespread acclaim in films like Pashupati Prasad and Jatra.

Alongside Karki, the play stars actors Sunisha Bajgain, Aavash Adhikari, Anil Subba, Mausam Subba, and Shishir Thapa, among others. 

The play will be staged at Shilpee, every day (except Tuesdays) at 5pm through Jan 6.