Bengali film actress Chatali Chakraborty (left) in Manoj Mitra’s play Munni O Saat Chowkidar. Picture by Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, Aug. 12: Ganesh Mahima by Usha Ganguly and Munni O Saat Chowkidar by Manoj Mitra enthralled the audience at the second Jharkhand state drama festival here last evening.

Ganesh Mahima, based on a novel by Mahashweta Devi, gives a vivid picture of oppression and exploitation of the underprivileged as bonded labourers at the hands of the rich belonging to the higher echelon of society despite after so many years of Independence. The play depicts that even the administration and the police failed to provide security with women being the worst victims till Lachhi Ma, representing a low caste, decides to kill zamindaar Ganesh whom she took as incarnation of Lord Ganesh whom she had brought up since childhood with utmost care. The director, Partho Bandopadhyaya, and scriptwriter Kaushik Chattopadhyaya have done true justice to the play with the artistes excelling in performance.

Manoj Mitra’s Munni O Saat Chowkidar is a satire on the contemporary political system of the country and about the degenerating elections which are contested for selfish gain with selfish motives. Directed by the playwright himself, the play is more than a commentary on social evils. The steel city audience could not have asked for more.