Bhubaneswar: A spellbinding play ‘Naga Bansam’ held the city theatre lovers captive as the artistes of Shwetapadma theatre group staged it at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, on Saturday evening.
The three-day twelfth edition of Shwetapadma Odia Theatre Festival (Shwetapadma Dwadasha Odia Mancha Nataka Mela) brought together a diverse palette of dramatic experiences. While the festival opened with ‘Ahamikara Jhada’ staged by Abhilash Theatre group of Bhubaneswar, the host theatre group ‘Shwetapadma’ staged its own play ‘Bhabara Thakura’ on the second evening.
On the concluding evening, the host theatre group’s new production ‘Naga Bansham’ turned out to be a well-received one, not letting the theatre lovers to take their glance off the stage.
Written and directed by Pradeep Biswal, the play revolves around Prabhudutta Mohapatra, the patriarch of a Brahmin family ancestry- Naga Bansha, whose word is law. He brooks no dissent, demanding unquestioned obedience from every member of his household.It is due to Prabhudutta’s draconian decrees, his wife, Suprava, has been living separately in a nearby building for 25 long years, his younger brother Suryakant Mohapatra remains unmarried and his elder son, Aniruddha, is forced to abandon his higher studies mid-way.
The family celebrates the thousand-year-old dynasty’s foundation day with great pomp every year.
On one such occasion, Suprava joins the family members. As per the long-standing tradition, she prepares to return to her residence after the rituals conclude. However, this time the entrenched tradition is challenged by Suryakant who urges her to vow that she will stay back and live with them.
The move enrages Prabhudutta, setting off a chain reaction. Gradually, family members—and even his close friend—begin to question the legitimacy of his rigid decisions. Cornered from all sides, Prabhudutta declares that everyone is free to take their own decisions, but only after his death. Moments later, fate intervenes as he suffers a cardiac arrest and passes away.
The story takes a poignant turn on the first death anniversary of Prabhudutta, when his elder son assumes the role of family head. His first proclamation-the marriage of his younger brother Shreechandan with Tanaya, daughter of Biprabandhu, Prabhudutta’s friend, signaling a decisive break from the past.
The suspense over whether Prabhudutta would ever have changed his mind set kept the audience on tenterhooks till the last scene.
Pradeep Biswal delivered a powerful performance as Prabhudutta, inhabiting the role with remarkable depth and nuance. Similarly, Lambodar Digal as Suryakant Mohapatra, Debi Prasad Das as Aniruddha, Bishnu Panda as Shreechandan Mohapatra, Sweta Rath as Suprava Devi rendered equally compelling performances.
Prajnadutta Sahoo needs mention for erecting a set, resembling a grand hall of a mansion which added visual richness to eth production. At the same time, Shakti Prasad Mishra’s soulful music and background score and Abhijit Biswal’s deft lighting design created the perfect theatrical mood on the stage.
Earlier in the evening, dignitaries including Lala Biren Ray, Bidhu Bhushan Panda, Satya Narayan Jena, Mukund Charan Satpathy, Prof Purna Chandra Mallik and Ganesh Kumar Nayak inaugurated the event, which was followed by a felicitation ceremony where eminent theatre personalities Dr Narendra Kumar Mishra, Ramesh Maharana and stage artist Prajna Dutta Sahoo were honoured with ‘Shwetapadma Saraswata Pratibha Samman’.
Theatre personalities Mukund Chandra Satpathy and Bhajakrushna Mohanty ensured the smooth and seamless production of the play.
On the stage:
Pradeep Biswal, Debi Prasad Das, Lambodar Digal, Bishnu Panda, Bijay Bahali, Brajabandhu Badajena, Dr Ashish Biswal and Ayushman Jena, Sweta Rath and Ananya Mohapatra
Off the stage:
Writer and Director: Pradeep Biswal, Asst Director: Ayushman Jena, Music: Shakti Prasad Mishra, Light: Abhijit Biswal, Costume: Mama Chitralay, Stage: Prajna Dutta Sahoo
