Bhubaneswar: Ever imagined what would become of Yamraaj, Chitragupt and other courtiers if Coronavirus reaches Yamlog?
The play ‘Swargare Lockdown’ staged on the premises of Panchamveda here on December 14 depicted such a situation, in such a way that audience could not help putting hands together after each and every scene.
Kapil Kumar Mohapatra, a film actor, and another person sharing his name are Coronavirus infected patients undergoing treatment at a COVID-19 hospital. Yamraaj’s two messengers come to the earth to take the other patient to Yamlog. As KK shares the patient’s name, the messengers take him to Yamlog. After coming to know about him, Chitragupt asks the messengers to take KK back to the earth. But this time KK puts a condition to leave Yamlog. He wishes to take one of the dancing damsels of Indra’s court to the earth so that he can make a film taking her as the leading lady.
Yamraaj and his courtiers are in a fix, thinking about how to get rid of KK.
Then an idea strike them. They task Menaka with the job to trick KK into drinking ‘soma rasa’.
He passes out after drinking excess of the alcoholic beverage. Yamraaj and others are waiting for this moment. The messengers bring KK back to the earth and dropping him at the hospital, they return to Yamlog.
Since they had a COVID-19 patient among them, they for the fear of contracting the virus also start following COVID-19 guidelines like mask wearing, maintaining social distancing and maintaining hygiene.
Considering the fact that all the artistes are new to theatre, they did an excellent job. While the play was written by Narayan Sahoo, it was directed by Haren Sahu.
All the artistes were the participants of Rangpancham, the 15-day long theatre workshop starting November 29. The Organised by Panchamveda in association with Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), the workshop was production oriented.
Both the workshop and the play were observed with strictly adhering to COVID-19 norms prescribed by the state government.
By kalasanskruti
Photo courtesy: Panchamveda
