Bhubaneswar: The city theatre aficionados are in for a treat as Jeevan Rekha, one of the premier theatre groups in India, is gearing up for its three-day theatre festival ‘Rang Utsav’ from April 23 (Thursday).
This year, the theatre group is pulling out all stops, promising an engrossing viewing experience for theatre lovers.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the host group’s president Chinmayee Sarangi briefed the media that this year’s festival features three distinct theatrical flavours. “While the inaugural play will be Fyodor Dostoevsky’s classic ‘Crime And Punishment’, reimagined for the stage by Radhakrushna and directed by Abhinna Routray, ‘Anamika Tara’, penned by Panchanan Patra and direction by Abhinna Routray, will be staged on the second evening and ‘Andha Yug’, written by Dhrambir Bharati, translated by Soudamini Nanda and directed once again by Routray,” she informed.
The festival director Abhinna Routray, who is also the director of all three plays, said, “Staying true to our no-frills tradition, there will be no lamp lighting ceremony, no meeting and no formal speeches. Every evening, the play will begin sharp at 7.05 pm.”
The shows are ticketed ones, priced at Rs 100 and Rs 200. Those who want to watch the plays can buy tickets online via ‘Book My Show’, or visiting group’s website www.jeevanrekhatheatre.com or directly at Rabindra Mandap. The organisers are confident that each evening will promise a different prospective, delivering something to chew on after every performance.
Here’s a sneak peek into the plays:
Crime and Punishment
In this Odia dramatic adaptation of Crime and Punishment, the story draws us deep into the human psyche—into a turbulent journey of inner conflict, guilt, and the search for redemption.
On stage: Rohan Yadav, Simran Pattanayak, Subhashree Beura, Smruti Ranjan, Siddhi Ranjan, Shreenibas, Jayshankar Mishra, Tapan Mohanty, Arya Acharya, Bidisha Ghosh, Rashmita Dash, Subhasmita Malla, Jyoti Ranjan, Mahesh Sahu, Biranchi Samantaray, Gorekhnath Sankhua, Yajnaseni, Captain Arya, Jayashree, Trupti Ranjan, Prabhu, Sanjeev, Biswambar Dash, Aurojyoti, Chandan Behera, Rudramadhav and Asish Kumar
Off stage: Soumyasaswat Maharana (Music), Subhashree (Choreography), Seemanta Mohanty (Light Design), Sanjay Saha (Stage) and Radhakrushna (Costume)
Anamika Tara
“Anamika Tara” is a simple yet moving play. It is about those fleeting moments in our life—moments that last only a short while, yet leave behind a lasting impression on our heart. Like a faint star that continues to glow in our awareness long after dawn has broken, its presence lingers even when it is no longer visible.
On stage: Radhakrushna, Samarpita Dash, Amarendra Sahu, Smruti Ranjan, Subhashree Beura
Off stage: Shakti Prasad Mishra (Music), Sanjay Saha (Stage) and Rakesh Satapathy (Light Design)
Andha Yug
“Andha Yug”, written by Dharamvir Bharati, is a symbolic play centered on the final day of the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata. It lays bare the moral decay, violence, blind faith, and inner conflicts that plague human society.
On stage: Dipanwit Dasmohapatra, Sheetal Pattanayak, Shreenibas, Ashish Rout, Sant5osh Mohapatra, Tapan Mohanty, Ashutosh Panda, Siddhi Ranjan, Jayshankar Mishra, Jugal Sahu, Rohan Yadav, Trupti Ranjan, Sagar Mohapatra, Gorekhnath Sankhua, Priyajeet Behera, Jyoti Ranjan, Biranchi Samantaray, Biswambar Dash, Chandan Behera, Ashish Kumar, Rudra Madhav, Kabita and Pratiksha
Off stage: Bibhas Rath (Music), Jugal Sahu (Choreography), Sanjay Saha (Stage and Light Design) and Santosh Lenka (Special Music Arrangements)
