Bhubaneswar: Theatre aficionados in Bengaluru are in for a cultural delight as Jeevan Rekha Theatre, one of the premier theatre groups in India, is all set to stage four shows of its two critically-acclaimed plays under the ‘Natya Adhyaya’ series at the Samarthanam Auditorium, HSR Layout in Bengaluru on October 25 and 26.
Under the series, an initiative of the Bangalore Odia Sahitya Samaj (BOSS) founded by Tapasraj Maharana, in collaboration with the Utkala Samaja Foundation (USF) and other Odia organisations, Odia plays are staged, aiming to promote Odia culture and theatre among the Odia diaspora in Bengaluru. And, the shows always witness an impressive audience participation.
On October 25, the theatre group will stage ‘Taa Maa Ra Kahani’ (Her Mother’s Story) and ‘Koffee Katha Kabita’ (Coffee Discussion Poetry) at 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm respectively. The schedule will reverse on October 26, with ‘Koffee Katha Kabita at 3.30 pm and ‘Taa Maa Ra Kahani’ at 7.30 pm.
Both plays promise distinct flavours of theatre, sure to coax spectators to swim along their streams.
‘Taa Maa Ra Kahani’, written by Sushma Deshpande, transliterated by Ratnamala Swain and directed by Abhinna Routray, is a poignant solo play, portraying the life of a ‘Tamasha’ artiste, -her struggles, resilience and triumph. The play has already been staged around 20 times across the country to critical acclaim.
On the other hand, ‘Koffee Katha Kabita’, written by Abhinna Routray and directed by Rohan Yadav, is a lively multi-starrer drama set in an Odia-inspired café, weaving modern relationships with wit, humor, and philosophy. The upcoming show marks only its second performance after Bhubaneswar where it went down well with the theatre lovers.
When asked, Tapasraj Maharana explained, “We organize ‘Natya Adhyaya’ series here in Bengaluru with an objective to keep nearly 11 lakh Odia people living here connected to our root, particularly, the younger generation. They should know about our Odia culture, tradition, ethics and values. As they love to watch movies, they should also understand the cradle where actors are nurtured. Today, films and operas may entertain, but theatre still remains the purest form of performance. So, I believe, our cultural values can be best conveyed through theatre.”
“Such events also foster community bonding among Odias in Bengaluru, bringing an opportunity for them to interact, stay connected and develop brotherhood,” he added.
“I hope, Jeevan Rekha Theatre’s both plays will not only entertain but also enlighten our audience,” he further added.
Worth mentioning, tickets for the four shows are available for purchase on the official ticketing platform BookMyShow.
