Actors perform in Adabhuta Ubacha and Swetapadma (below) in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 4: Tales of a student and teacher and a married couple were at the core of two plays that enthralled theatre lovers here.

Sending a strong message, play Adabhuta Ubacha was staged at Bhanja Kala Mandap on three consecutive evenings, while narrating a the heart-warming story of a husband and his wife, play Swetapadma was staged at Rabindra Mandap for two consecutive evenings. Both the series of plays concluded last evening.

Staged as part of Natya Dhara series, a year-round theatre festival, organised by Odisha Natya Sangha, Adabhuta Ubacha was enacted by artistes of Parampara theatre troupe.

The play narrates the story of Adabhuta, a saint. He is someone, who is willing to learn from anything or anyone. He is known to have accepted 24 gurus, including elements such as wind, fire and water et al, who all have taught him some lesson or other. He even does not shy away from taking lessons from a small insect that exudes amazing capability of hard work and patience. Pingala, a courtesan, comes seeking his tutelage. She seeks atonement for her sins.

Adabhuta takes her as his disciple, but as time passes, he begins to observe her art carefully. He starts appreciating the kind of devotion she has for her artistic skills and how she practises to hone them. As it turns out, Adabhuta, impressed by her honesty, conviction and dedication, asks Pingala to take him as his disciple.

“The story sends out the message that anyone, irrespective of their caste, colour, creed or past, can be our teacher given that we have the eyes to appreciate what is being taught and not judge the person who is teaching,” said Prasanna Mishra, the 59-year-old director. So far, Mishra has directed around 80-odd plays.

Manmohan Jena, a playwright who passed away last year, penned the play. It had taken Mishra and Jena three months to conceptualise and prepare the play. Asim Basu designed the set.

The protagonists of Adabhuta, played by actor Ranjan, and Pingala by Rinky were well portrayed. The supporting cast, too, played their parts well in the one-hour-15-minute play.

Writer Pranabandhu Kar penned Swetapadma and Ajit Das directed the play. The play was staged by city-based troupe Ajit. Deepak Ranjan and Manishita brilliantly portrayed the characters of Hemakanta and Sweta. The play, despite revolving around the complications of a man-woman relationship, had subtle humour in it.

Many turned up for the shows. “Two very interesting plays were staged in the city. Both had strong messages embedded in them. Even the performances were very pleasing,” said theatre aficionado Arpita Swain.