Artistes from Afghanistan stage The Last Lantern at the India Theatre Olympiad at Kala Vikash Kendra in Cuttack on Tuesday evening. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 10: The fact that love is still alive amid the civil war in Afghanistan, has been aptly depicted by the artistes of the Mandegar Production, Kabul, at the India Theatre Olympiad.

The play The Last Lantern, staged at Kala Vikash Kendra last evening, was an attempt to pay tributes to legendary men, who have sacrificed their lives to fight against racial discrimination.

The play symbolically stands for those great men, who like lanterns to lead Afghanistan from darkness to enlightenment. It portrays the story of a commander of a resistance movement in Afghanistan whose life changes after he falls in love with a local village girl.

The 30-minute romantic musical drama was staged against a backdrop of the Buddha statue, which was earlier destroyed by Taliban militants.

“The play is very convincing in showing the heroics of local leaders, who sacrificed their lives to bring in a change,” said Amit Jha, a member of the audience.

Songs and live musical instruments, including tanpura and tabla, used in the play also created special interest among the audiences.

The Mandegar Production of Afghanistan was founded by a few talented immigrant youths to promote performing arts in various parts of the world.

Moreover, the audience appreciated an Odia play Mitu Mitu Nuhen Suara Vasha, staged by artistes from Salepur.

This play, staged by artistes of the Sanskrutika Sangha, was based on present day education system that has undergone a substantial change.

It also made an attempt to bring in a change in the mindset of teachers as well as parents, who often put pressure on their kids for studies, ignoring their interest and wishes.

“The play was so interesting and captivating that we were forced to introspect whether we are doing justice with our children, who are being burdened with so many textbooks and given no scope to enhance their creativity,” said Madhusmita Das, another member of the audience.

Das said the effort of the Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangha, organisers of the India Theatre Olympiad, was praiseworthy as the art lovers, from both Cuttack and outside, were getting scope to witness the theatre troupes from various parts of the country and the world at one place.