Bhubaneswar, Jan. 21: He has brought smiles on many faces through his comedy acts, but last evening was a bit different as he made the audience break down in tears.

On the occasion of the 14th foundation day celebrations of theatre group, Abhinaya Jagruti Institute of Theatre (Ajit), popular actor and comedian Pappu Pom Pom performed a one-man show on female foeticide.

After a gender-detection test, the husband and the mother-in-law of a woman decide to abort the foetus after they come to know that it is a girl. Before the night of operation, an inner voice from the mother's womb appeals to the woman to rescue her.

Dressed like a ballerina, Pom Pom's enactment of the voice as a helpless foetus stole hearts. The pulsating voice, along with the expressions, portrayed the horrors of female foeticide.

However, the play ends with the mother failing to put up a fight against her in-laws and the foetus is aborted. Writhing in pain and screaming for help, Pom Pom's portrayal of the dying foetus was moving.

Conceptualised and directed by the theatre troupe's founder Ajit Das, the 35-minute play called Ajanma deftly portrayed the serious side of the comedian.

'As an actor one should be versatile. However, I was a little apprehensive about my performance since it was a solo act and the entire attention would be on me. I gave my best because unlike films, there is no second chance or take on the stage,' said the 37-year-old actor.

The audience, too, loved his performance.

'A number of plays have been staged on this issue, but this was special. I watched Papu in a new avatar, and he acted so well. All the emotions were so beautifully portrayed. Moreover, the concept of an inner voice speaking to the mother from the womb was quite innovative. Altogether, the performance just blew my mind,' said Apoorva Patnaik, 26, a theatre lover.