Bhubaneswar: National Multilingual Drama Festival by Satabdira Kalakar, a premier theatre organisation in the state, kick started at Rabindra Mandap here Sunday. The five-day-long 23rd Kalinga Natya Mahotsav was inaugurated by Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development and Higher Education Minister Arun Sahoo and former Chief Secretary Sahadev Sahoo.
On this occasion some theatre personalities and journalists for their contribution to the theatre world were felicitated. Theatre and TV serial actress Bhaswoti Basu, actor Fakir Singh and journalist Arunika Mohapatra were awarded with Satabdira Kalakar Samman. Sumitra Samman was conferred on Dharitri Khandual, a theatre and TV serial actress who has acted over 50 plays and a number of TV serials. Every year, Satabdira Kalakar felicitates its senior theatre personalities with Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, Raj Kishore Nayak and Prashant Kumar Das were the recipients of the award.
After felicitation ceremony, play ‘Gagan Ghata Ghahraani’was staged by Nirman Kala Manch, one of the prominent theatre institutions in Patna. The play delves into the life of Kabir Das, a 15th-century poet and saint, and presented some still relevant principles of his life to the theatre lovers.
Kabir is known for being critical of power and religion. He would raise his voice whenever common people became target of people in power. In a nutshell, it can be said that the saint’s ‘banis’ are the mainstay of the play, urging people to shun greed for power and embrace love and brotherhood, dedicating fully to God.
Sanjay Upadhyay’s direction needs special mention. The choice of artistes for various characters was perfect. The amount of rehearsal was reflected on the stage with each artiste doing justice to his/her character. Md Jafar Alam did justice to his Kabir character.
However, at some points in the second half, this reviewer feels, the play loses its flow, resulting in some audience losing interest. Some even left the auditorium half way through the play.
On the second, third, fourth and fifth evenings, plays like ‘Eka Jidkhor Jhia’ (Odia), ‘Sappho Chitrangada’ (Bengali), ‘Madhuparkaalu’ (Telugu) and ‘Ghatotkach Putr Mor’ (Assamese) will be staged by Satabdira Kalakar, Dum Dum Sabdomugdho Natya Kendra, Kolkata; Aravinda Arts Development Society, Vijayawada and Purba Ranga, Guwahati respectively.
This year the host organisation has introduced ‘Watch the play and go home with gifts’. The visitors are asked to write down their names and mobile numbers on a piece of paper at the entrance. At the end of the play, two names will be drawn by lot and the winners will be given gift hampers, sponsored by Ruchi foodlines. It’s a good idea to make audience sit through the play. But, what if the play fails to give an engaging viewing experience.
By kalasanskruti
