Bhubaneswar: In an age where emojis speak louder than words and swipes replace glances, modern relationships are a maze many are still trying to navigate. Jeevan Rekha Theatre, one of India’s leading theatre groups, is set to unpack this complex world through its upcoming original Odia play, ‘Koffee Katha Kabita’, slated for July 12 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.
Written by Jeevan Rekha’s founder Abhinna Routray and directed by the young and dynamic Rohan Yadav, the play promises to hold a mirror to the unexplored crevices of human relationships, leaving the audience to confront truths they often choose to ignore.
Under Rohan’s direction, the group’s recent successes with ‘Ghoda Muhan’ (adapted from Girish Karnad’s ‘Hey Badan’) and ‘Emiti Kuha Jae’ (adapted from Manav Kaul’s ‘Aisa Kehte Hain’), theatre lovers are keen to see if he can recreate the magic with an original script.
“This time, we are telling the story of relationships from the perspective of Gen Z and Gen Alpha,” says Rohan. “It’s packed with twists and turns, but the beauty is that both the youth and older generations will find themselves reflected in these characters. This is because, the present generation is living the life we are portraying and the elders have already lived it,” he adds.
Rohan shares that the storytelling format of the play made handling its layered narrative easier, helping to keep the performances natural and immersive.
The play features actress Smiti Bhanja, known for her work in Mumbai’s theatre circuit, in the role of Adriti. “Adriti is a free spirit. She believes in moving forward, and if a relationship becomes a burden, she doesn’t hesitate to let it go,” says Smiti, adding, “It’s challenging for me because I am the opposite. I’d give multiple chances to mend relationships, but for Adriti, compromise is a word that doesn’t exist.”
Sheetal Pattanayak, essaying the character of Alisha, points out that the generational gap is more a mindset than an experience. “Elders have experienced what youths are going through today, but while they chose to sweep it under the carpet, today’s youth are more open about it. This play will help blur these mindsets.”
The play also marks the stage debut of Siddhi Satpathy, who plays Ishani. She is optimistic about the play’s reception, saying, “It has everything—romance, comedy, twists and turns—to keep the audience hooked. They won’t get a chance to doze off, that’s for sure.”
With relatable characters, contemporary conflicts, and a narrative that mirrors the times, ‘Koffee Katha Kabita’ promises to be more than just a play; it’s a conversation starter for generations trying to decode love and relationships in the era of fast swipes and faster goodbyes.
The other actors and actresses of the play are Joy Mishra, Sidhi ranjan Naga and Sagar Mohapatra.
Off Stage:
Stagecraft: Sanjay Saha, Music: Soumya and Aditya, Movement: Anwesha, Styling: Priyanka, Art: Lotan, Costume: Old Town India, POster: Nikhil, Edits: Prabhu, Shoot: Chillar Production, Promotion: We are PI, BTS: Sonali and Sartaz
