Balangir: Artistes of Bianpani Natya Kala Sansad of Badkarle in Sonepur staged Bababadha, a satire on the fraud god men, that won the second best play at the just-concluded Sambalpuri theatre festival Natbadi organised by the SITE cultural council at Sadaipali in Balangir.

Lalsa, a Sambalpuri play by Natyarashmi, a Barpali-based theatre troupe, won the major awards at the festival.

The play was adjudged the best play. It also fetched the best direction awards for Abinash Mahapatra and second best actor award for Sudam Nag. Papanga Pahadar Tale by the Rangabhumi of Loisingha won the prize for third best play. The audience prize went to the much admired Kunduli Raejar Jhi (daughter of Kunduli), which portrays the tragedy of the minor girl of Kunduli in Koraput district.

Laxmi in, Saraswati out, a satire on the commercialisation of education, won two awards for the best script and best stagecraft. The best actor award went to Pradeep Kumar Panda for Bhrulata, while Kanaka Dansena won the award for the best actress for the same play.

The other highlight of the theatre festival was the competition in the category of dance-drama. Sita Thaba of Chandrapur and Sita Chori of Barkani jointly won the best production award. The second prize went again jointly to Sita Banabasa of Adendunguri and Panchabatira Parnasala of Tamia in Balangir. Sarat Kumar Putel won the best actor award for Sita Thaba.

Balangir collector Arindam Dakua attended the award giving function as chief guest and gave away the prizes on Sunday evening.

Two plays were staged on the closing evening of the 10-day festival. Of them, Bababadha is written and directed by Sumanta Bhoi. The other play Papanga Pahadar Tale is about a hill, which is a mute spectator to the history and life in the Bheden area of Bargarh district.