All the water’s a stage: Arun Mahajan as Goopy (extreme right), Ashok Chakraborty as Bagha (with the drum)

From September 27 to 29, the aquatic stadium in Hotwar was magically transformed into a fairytale kingdom as goofy Goopy and bumbling Bagha splashed about.

Hosted by Jharkhand IAS Officers’ Wives’ Association, Calcutta-based Indian Life Saving Society presented jal-natika (water ballet) Gupi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya, a Hindi theatrical adaptation of the classic children’s tale by Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury

BACKGROUND

Two good-hearted village bumpkins who are aspiring musicians but can’t get a note right, three kings, including one of the ghost kingdom, many goofy characters, a war averted, weddings and a happily-ever-after ending. That’s Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury’s famous fantasy fiction for you. Grandson Satyajit Ray made Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne into two world famous films in 1969 and 1980. Great-grandson Sandip Ray directed the last one in 1992

Hemant Soren and his family watch the show in Hotwar, Ranchi, on September 27

FAMILY FRAME

Chief minister Hemant Soren, wife Kalpana and sons Nitil and Sahil were seen enjoying the unique show on September 27

MAKING WAVES

Why Ranchi loved it

If you haven’t seen an Indian mermaid, here she is. Pictures by Prashant Mitra

• Never-seen-before fundraiser event on three consecutive evenings

• Ninety-minute ballet where 65 actors-cum-swimmers make synchronised movements in water and enact the story with expressions

• Lights and music enhance the experience

DIRECTOR’S CUT

“I’m glad people enjoyed it here as much as we did. Acting in water is very tough. We use pre-recorded music and voice-overs,” director Sudarshan Roy

ACHINTYA GANGULY