Artistes perform a Bengali play at the theatre Olympiad in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 25: All-India Theatre Olympiad under way at the Kala Vikash Kendra here continues to enthral audiences with some heart-warming plays based on reality and social awareness.

A Bengali play Baisakhir Raat staged by Sreenagar Habra Natya Milan Gosthi was most appreciated by the audiences on the fifth evening of the theatre Olympiad on Tuesday.

The play was based on the struggle of a girl after the death of her mother at an early age. The girl, Baisakhi, was deprived of the love and affection of her mother while her father always neglected her.

Earlier, three Odia plays also received warm response from the audiences on Monday evening.

An Odia play titled Kokua left city’s theatre lovers in quandary over the issue of industrialisation, displacement and left wing extremism that holds relevance in the present contemporary society here.

The play written by Bijoy Satapathy and directed by Omprakash Behera was staged on the fourth evening of the ongoing event.

The artistes of Trinetra group of Cuttack aptly depicted the feelings of terror, anarchy and insecurity, which was once described by Sarala Das, the eminent Odia poet, as the symbol of devil, devastation and horror.

The play Kokua revolved around Shyamananda, the protagonist, who is a Gandhian, working for establishing peace and love among people.

However, his ideologies face severe challenges keeping in view the ongoing industrialisation at a remote village that is also plagued by terrorist activities.

Besides Kokua, audience also liked two other Odia plays — Ama Pari Chota Pila Sei (children’s play) and Sata Janmara Prasna.

Ama Pari Chota Pila Sei staged by Utkalmani Sishu Sikshya Mandir, Cuttack, was based on the story of two neglected children and their emotions.

There are times when children often get confused after their parents discourage them to follow the principles of morality, which once they only had taught their children.

It is a question before the civilised society as such contradictions sometimes give a strong blow to the mental set-up of children.

Sata Janmara Prasna by Nrutya Sangeet Academy, Salipur, on the other hand was an experimental play based on the struggle and present problems that women face in the society.

In the male dominated society, the sacrifices of woman have been deliberately ignored while her emotions have been trampled and she has been punished in return.

Stata Janmara Prasna (question of seven births) asks every individual whether there shall be a day when the atrocities against women will come to an end.

“All the three plays were based on reality and forced the audiences to introspect the lacuna and mindset of people that needs to undergo a change not only for the empowerment of women but for the development of a prosperous nation,” said Prakash Sarangi, a member of the audience group.

All-India Theatre Olympiad is organised by Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangha (UYSS) for the past 20 years in the city. The organisers meanwhile are gearing up for the International Theatre Festival starting from October 1.