A group performs at the drama festival in Dergaon

The North East Theatre Academy, a flourishing institution of acting with a motto to encourage and provide training in dramatics, emerged in 2007 under Abiram Ek Gati, a socio-cultural organisation of Dergaon.

The budding performers of this institution were greatly inspired as noted Assamese playwrights, actors and writers showered their blessings on them.

The Natya Utsav started with various competitions among the students like cultural procession competition, quiz contests based on drama and cinema and exhibition of handicraft and mask. A book fair was also organised as part of the festival.

On the final day, a symposium was held on Problems of the Amateur Theatre on Present Perspective, which was inaugurated by actor-director Sanjib Kalita.

A meeting was held in the presence of some distinguished persons from all over the state. The meeting, presided over by playwright Krishna Rai Medhi, was inaugurated by Dergaon circle officer Tapan Gohain. Playwright and novelist Arun Sharma enlivened the gathering with his valuable speech on Assamese drama and theatre. Author Arun Goswami and Ajit Baruah also expressed their views. Another writer Prafulla Chandra Bora formally inaugurated the souvenir, Natyajyoti.

The two-day mega event included four interesting drama performances, which were the main attractions of the festival.

Seujia Gadi, a play by Pankaj Jyoti Bhuyan, was performed under the direction of Simanta Phukon. The play reflects how today’s mechanical lifestyle influences a child’s mentality and thoughts on contemporary world. Director Deepak Mahanta showcased Shiali Palegoi Ratanpur, a beautiful creation by Assamese poet Nabakanta Baruah. Gunakar Devagoswami beautifully converted a story from Pancharatna to Santrash, a play without any dialogue, which kept the audience spellbound. A Bhava Gahana Bana, a play written by Nabajyoti Bora, depicted the tragic story of the poor.

The actors — Arindom, Raktim, Jishu, Mayur, Asha, Mandira, Saurav, Sukanya, Sristi, Bithika, Aayan, Swaswati, Pratyush, Olimpica, Poljit, Indrani and Tusharpriya — all students of the academy who took part in Seujia Gadi, Shiali Palegoi Ratanpur and Santrash were highly appreciated for their powerful and commendable performances.

The great effort and contribution of the organising committee under the direction of Simanta Phukon, director of the academy, really made Natya Utsav 2008 a grand success.