Bhubaneswar: The three-day-long state level contemporary theatre festival organised by Expressions, one of the best theatre groups in Odisha, at Bhanjakala Mandap in Bhubaneswar came to an end on February 28 .
On the concluding day, the host group staged a play titled ‘Chenaae Akasha’. It’s director Debananda Nayak Soni, the founder of Expressions, did a commendable job in bringing out the essence of the relationship between a father and a son on the stage.
Debananda himself portrayed the father’s role. His Abinash is a man who never keep a tight rein on his son Animesh, an engineering student reading in Chennai, because he believes in the values he has inculcated in him.
He wants his son should learn lessons from the mistakes so that he can live his life in a better way. Once he tells his son a story of a saint and a scorpion.
One day, a saint sees a scorpion is trying to come out of the river but is failing in its every attempt. The saint takes it out. While picking it up from the river, it stings the saint.
One of his disciples was watching the entire episode. “You know scorpion is poisonous and it stings. Yet, why did you bring it up?” he asks.
In his reply, the saint says, “To sting is a scorpion’s innate instinct. If it never gives up its nature, why should I.”
This story leaves an impact on Animesh. In a certain incident, he goes an extra mile to help the brother of his mess’s cook without caring for the problems he faces. But for his help, the cook’s brother would have died.
However, Animesh keeps it to himself. He never discloses it before anyone including his father.
Once, Abinash alnd his wife Sunanda visit Chennai to meet his son. While in Chennai, the cook narrates everything before them.
After hearing their son’s noble act, Abinash and Sunanda’s faith in his son is reaffirmed and they feel proud of their son.
The play also threw light on the commercialization of education system.
Soumya Ranjan Sahu tried his level best to give justice to his character Animesh. All the other artistes like Sonam Raula (Sunanda), Jaga Rao (cook) and those portrayed Animesh’s friends were excellent as well.
One thing this reviewer noticed was Debananda’s brilliance in proper using the stage space. He used the upstage, the downstage and acting space to the maximum. Abinash’s house, institution campus and Animesh’s room were beautifully placed.
If I am asked about music (by Ashish) and light design (by Rakesh), they could have been better. It is rightly said that music and light design can make or break a good show.
The play was written by Sanjay Praharaj. During his interaction with audience, he revealed it that a real incident happened with his son during his stay in Chennai had inspired him to write the play.
The concluding evening’s guests were three eminent theatre personalities like Manoj Pattanayak, Prasanna Mishra and Mihir Kumar Meher. The persons who were felicitated for their contribution to the theatre world were journalist Pradeep Pattanayak, Sriman Mishra of Canmass, a Paradip based theatre organisation and Susmita Rana Pattanayak of Nayika, a Balasore based theatre organisation.
