Of lines and lives

With over 12 countries including the likes of USA, UK, Germany, China, France, Poland, Switzerland, Norway, Israel, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, among others, taking part and showcasing around 150 plays to theatre lovers in the city, National School of Drama’s  ongoing 17th Bharat Rang Mahotsav is a bigger and better affair than ever. The 17th edition of the festival has been conceptualized and designed with the theme of ‘Breaking Borders’, and is being held in the Capital from February 1 to 18

To popularize theatre among the youth and to use theatre as a learning process, National School of Drama is facilitating various colleges to perform in this year’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav. Various theatre troupes and rock bands of Delhi University colleges and Jawaharlal Nehru University will find an opportunity to showcase their talent. 

Day six and seven (February 6 and 7) of the festival saw many interesting performances. Day 6 started with the play With Unarmed Forces. Directed by Idit Herman and performed by Clipa Theatre, Israel, the play is a tragic-comic physical theatre piece that deals with war, sex and trash and is based on the concept of object manipulation. The Hindi/ Bagheli play Karnabharam was also performed which was directed by Neeraj Kunder and Roshini Prasad Mishra of the Indravati Natya Samiti group, Sidhi.

Camus’s Caligula directed by Biplab Bandyopadhyay is the Bengali play performed by Kolkata’s Prachyo group. Madalya is the ancient theatre tradition of Dangi tribals of Gujarat. It was largely performed to entertain guests during wedding celebrations in the traditional agrarian society. With the invasion of urbanization that swept across Dangs in the late twentieth century, celebration of weddings and the traditions associated with it have drastically been transformed, pushing the theatre tradition in a dark corner and losing its popular status. It was directed by Kalpesh Dalal by the group Aavishkar, of Ahmedabad.

Zindagi aur Jonk is an adaptation of the story written by Amar Kant. It is a tale of conflict between severance and strengthening of human bondage. Directed by Bansi Kaul, the hindi play was performed by Rang Vidushak group, Bhopal. 

Another play performed by day 6 was Tomare smaran  kori rupokar directed by Tulika Das and performed by Bohurupee, KolkataDay seven of the Rang Mahotsav started with Niyati: The Oedipus Complex directed by Ashok Banthia and performed by Natyakulam group, Jaipur. 

The Oedipus myth has been interpreted in various ways over the years. In our interpretation, the myth has been explored through a framing of ritual theatre, with minor interpolations. Elements unknown / feared by the human imagination, like the sphinx, the oracle, or the god of pestilence have taken pre-modern forms in their costumes and performance. The Bengali play Oedipus directed by Kallol Bhattacharya and performed by Ebong Amra, Vardahaman was also showcased at the LTG Auditorium.

The story of an internationally acclaimed artist who has been awarded for his new painting series named Bombay-17. 

The play takes us back to his early life and a night that changed his entire life. Director Santosh Verulkar showcased the play at the Kamani Auditorium, it was performed by Adwait Theatre, Mumbai.

The day ended with Sunil Pokhrel’s Rasomon, a nepali play performed by the  Aarohan and Mandala 

Theatre, Nepal.