Mohan Rakesh Natya Samaroh enthralls Delhi audience

Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi Government's art and culture wing conducted the 4-day theatre festival as a homage to the theatre legend Mohan Rakesh. The annual theatre festival Mohan Rakesh Natya Samaroh opened on November 11, 2019 and concluded on November 14, at Kamani Auditorium.

Mohan Rakesh Natya Lekan Competition was organised as part of the event, in which top four play writers across India were selected for Mohan Rakesh Samman and their plays were presented during this festival.

First day of the ceremony was started with a book launch of NatyaTarang followed by the Mohan Rakesh Award recognising the top four play writers Dr Sanjeev Kumar, Ras Bihari Delhi, Ravikant Mishra and YogeshTripathi who were also honoured with cash prize. The first prize-winning play Krita by Dr Sanjeev Kumar and directed by Sanjay Upadhayay was presented.

On the second day, another strong play – Anth Se Aarambh by Ravikant Mishra was presented. The play directed by Abhilash Pillai is about the destruction happening in the name of development.

The third-day audience got mesmerised with a play which exposes society's pseudo-fourth cigarette. The play 'Chauthi Cigarette' directed by Dr Danish Iqbal has two main characters who become helpless nymphs in the era of capitalism and marketing.

On last day of the festival, Raas Bihari Dutt's Chhaya Hindol was presented. The play directed by Bharti Sharma is about the predominantly male dominated society and how women have to face all the situations.

Congratulating Sahitya Kala Parishad and the artists, Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, said, "Sahitya Kala Parishad is leaving no stone unturned to provide a big platform to the theatre artists and recognising their work on a national level. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the theatrical artists and the participating directors for successfully presenting their acts. And I thank the Delhi audience without whom such events are not possible."