Artistes stage the play Pratimurti at Rabindra Mandap and Ajaati at Bhanja Kala Mandap in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Aug 4: Two entertaining plays regaled theatre aficionados in the city last week.

While the humorous play, Pratimurti, brought curtains down on a daylong cultural event organised by Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya alumni at Rabindra Mandap, the Odisha Natak Sangh staged Ajaati for three consecutive evenings at Bhanja Kala Mandap.

Pratimurti focused on the general obsession of erecting statues of great personalities and later turning a blind eye to them. The play narrated the story of six statues of different dignitaries that had subtle resemblance to some of Odisha’s known figures – a former chief minister, an agriculture minister, a martyr, a musician, a magistrate and a farmer.

The farmer, not a conventionally celebrated figure, had committed suicide out of hunger. The act began with a minister, who in his efforts to garner public support, comes to pay tribute to the legendary personalities by adorning garlands to them.

However, he finds it difficult to even reach the busts and uses a stick to put the floral tribute around the necks. Later in the evening, lovebirds canoodle behind the statues, leaving the six personalities embarrassed. But the traumatic day is far from over for them.At night, drunkards find the spot a perfect meeting place even as the statues discuss the plight of the nation and their own well-being.

The next morning, some real estate agents find that the statues were unnecessarily blocking space and needed to be pulled down to make way for apartments. The play with humorous dialogues packs a punch, ending with the statues rising from the debris.

Directed by Pragyan Ranjan Khatua, celebrated actors such as Meenaketan, Choudhary Bikash Das and Harihar Mohapatra played pivotal characters in the play. Mohapatra, a well-known comedian, who played the role of the statue of the musician, turned nostalgic while performing.

“I have learnt everything about acting at this college. No matter whether you act in films or on television, nothing beats theatre as you get instant reaction. By acting in plays, a film actor can shed all the rust he has gathered,” said Mohapatra, who graduated from the college 15 years ago.

Audience stayed back till late night and lauded the performances.

“The veteran actors lived up to their reputation. Though a comedy, the play drives home a powerful message on human hypocrisy,” said Deepak Ranjan, a theatre enthusiast.

Ajaati, performed by artistes of Puri-based theatre troupe Rangashala, also narrated the story of a zamindar, who ruins a girl’s life in his pursuit for power and lust. The girl’s lover ultimately avenges her death. The play was scripted by veteran actor Bijay Mohanty and directed by Bikram Sahu.