Guwahati, Jan. 4: The Asom Natya Sanmilan will, for the first time, introduce children's drama in their 54th session that gets under way here on Friday.

The Sanmilan is organising the four-day session at the Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra to instil theatre culture among youngsters.

"We will introduce children's drama this time. Six children's plays have been selected, which will be performed on the second, third and fourth day of the session," president of the Sanmilan, Dilip Bora, said.

The plays - Ami puhor bisari jam from North Guwahati, Kamrup (rural) district, Goti moti loti ghoti from Bihpuria, Lakhimpur district, Moi tuniye tuntunalo from Tinsukia district, Foring palegoi Ratanpur from Puranigudam, Nagaon district, Tejimama aru angit from Guwahati and Lotokon... kio koro enekhon from Dergaon in Golaghat district - were selected from the state to perform in the session.

"All the children's drama groups of the state were given a theme on which they have made their plays. The themes were based on the works of Assam's eminent laureates such as Lakshminath Bezbaruah, Lakshyadhar Choudhury and others so that the new generation can reconnect with their (authors') works," said eminent theatre artist and Sanmilan's president Dulal Roy.

Apart from that, the four-day session will also feature eight plays selected from several places. "We have selected eight plays from the state. With the help of Sangeet Natak Akademi of New Delhi, the Varanasi-based Jnan Pravah - Centre for Cultural Studies and Researches are presenting a Sanskrit play - Karnadharam, Sattriya Kendra Guwahati is presenting Rambijoy, and National School of Drama's Repertory Company is presenting the plays Ghashiram Kotwal and Ghazab Teri Ada will be featured in our session," Dilip Bora said.

Formed in 1959, the Sanmilan has been one of the pioneers of bringing drama culture in Assam.

"Like drama, which purifies a man's soul, our Sanmilan also envisages the purification of Assamese society and we have come a long way while doing so. Drama has not become as popular as we had imagined, but if we try to count the eminent artists who hail from here, our fingers will fall short," said Dulal Roy.