Bhubaneswar: The inaugural play of the five-day 27th National Kalinga Natya Mahotsav, organised by Satabdira Kalakar, one of the premier theatre groups in India, was ‘Mahasangramara Mahanayaka’, staged by the artistes of the host institution at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
The play transported the theatre lovers to 1817 when the traditional Paikas led by Buxi Jagabandhu, the military commander of the forces of the king of Khurda, launched an armed revolt against the Britishers.
The stage lights up to show Buxi Jagabandhu and Paika heads of Khurda area discussing how to win over the Britishers. And, they win in the Banapur attack and go on acquiring one after another area including Khurda.
Meanwhile, with an aim to weak the the Paikas’ strength, the Britishers manage to take Charan Patnaik to their fold and appoint him as the Tehsildar of Khurda.The British administrator Major Fletcher start inflicting unspeakable cruelty on the people before being killed in the attack led by Buxi Jagabandhu.
After coming to know that the landlords are providing financial support to Buxi and his army, the British administration threaten the landlords not to support Buxi any more.
With financial support stops coming, Buxi finds it difficult to pay salary to the Paikas. Consequently, they start leaving the army and take up farming to feed their families.
But, Buxi is not the person to lay down his arms. He along with his minimum soldiers continue his gorilla war against the Britishers. The war continues for eight years from 1817 to 1825, witnessing losses from both sides. Buxi’s two queens and his children are kept in Barabati fort.
With no way left with the British administration to defeat Buxi, they approach Nayagarh king, who is Buxi’s friend, asking him to persuade Buxi to enter into a pact. In turn, they promise they would stop torturing people and allow them to produce salt from Chilika.
For the benefit of the people, Buxi going against his will signs the pact. He is kept at a place in Cuttack (Which is now known as Buxi Bazaar).
But, the confinement keeps hurting him. The urge to free his land makes him restless. Finally, while in captive, he breathes his last in 1829.
The theatre lovers remaining glued to their seats till the last scene was a testimony to the successful staging of the play. While staging historical play is not an easy task, the ease with which the artistes staged the play was attributed to the time spent in rehearsal and the brilliance of direction.
Aloka Agnibesh, son of Dhira Mallick, did full justice to his Buxi Jagabandhu character. The play featured as many as 35 artistes who delivered their best, giving the audience and engrossing viewing experience. Pratap Rout’s music needs special mention.
The play was written by former Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Biswabhushan Haricharan while Dhira Mallick, the brain behind Satabdira Kalakar, directed it.
Among the audience was Odisha’s Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, son of the writer of the play, who watched the play till the end and heaped praise on the actors for their excellent acting and portraying their characters to the hilt. He also urged that the play should be staged at different places across Odisha.
Earlier in the evening, the festival was inaugurated by lighting the auspicious lamp by eminent playwright Bijay Kumar Das, ex-Chief Secretary, Odisha, Sahadev Sahoo and noted film personality Biranchi Narayan Panda.
On this occasion, noted theatre personalities like Dr Narendra Mishra, Hemanta Kumar Mohapatra, Alhadini Kar and Bibhuti Bhushan Mohanty were felicitated with Satabdira Kalakar Samman, Rabindranath Natyakar Samman, Sumitra Samman and lifetime achievement award respectively.
