Artistes from the Tulasi Cultural Association, Kendrapada, enact Odia play Chhabi. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, April 9: Social issues, negative traits of human nature, poverty and grief seem to be the best plots that Odia dramatists can come up with.

No matter how often the stage hosts similar tales, playwrights and directors of the state do not seem to tire of showcasing tragedies and that too in the same style.

At the third edition of the Natyadhara series at Rabindra Mandap on Sunday, there was nothing different happening on stage, except for a slightly different storyline. However, the artistes of the Tulasi Cultural Association, Kendrapada, displayed adroitness in keeping the audience glued to their seats till late in the evening.

Fitting a checklist of regular elements, the Sunday drama, Chhabi was similar to a regular Odia play presented in the city in many aspects. It too revolved around a rural location, depicted the mean and selfish attitudes of people when it comes to grabbing property and the lack of sensibilities of the main characters leading to miserable and pathetic situations.

Gobinda, the central character, is busy enjoying life on his own terms and does not care much about the happiness of his family members. His wife dies because of his neglect and to be further free from emotional attachments, he sells off his small daughter Chhabi.

People in the village plot against him and grab his land and Gobinda repents for his mistakes later, while also missing his daughter.

Later, Chhabi, who has been missing her father, comes to him for just five hours and attends to his ailments. But finally she has to return to the world her father had pushed her into as a child.

The set was interesting and reflected the backdrop of the plot well. But there was much that could have been done to make the play more interesting for the viewers.

The production, just like most others in the city, lacked theatre aesthetics and freshness. It was quite monotonous too. There was no effort to achieve a higher level of creativity.

Interestingly, there was a houseful audience at the auditorium, although there was hardly much applause or appreciation coming from them.

“Every time there is a play staged here, I make it a point to watch it. Though not very different, I liked the performance,” said Anuradha Bisoi, a theatre enthusiast.

The play was presented by director Abhinna Routray and written by well-known author Ramachandra Behera. It was a part of the Natyadhara series that was started last month by the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and department of culture in association with Odisha Natya Sangha, to stage plays at Rabindra Mandap and Bhanja Kala Mandap a few times a month.