Drama, comedy and verse — all genres of literature that  Rabindranath Tagore wrote, were represented at Paschim Banga Natya Sangha’s Rabindra Natya Utsav, held on May 16 and 17 at Ramgopal Mancha. Although Natya Sangha celebrated Tagore’s birth anniversary every year with a miscellaneous programme of recitation, srutinatak or short plays, this year’s programme was organised differently. Commemorating Tagore’s 154th birth anniversary, Paschim Banga Natya Sangha’s theatre festival comprised some old plays of theatre groups, but those which have been staged lesser number of times. 

“Since we had two days for the festival, we selected those groups whose productions on Tagore have been staged lesser number of times. This made it easier to choose the groups,” said Suman Banerjee of Samipesu, who was in the organising committee. 

Bauria PRT opened the festival on the evening of May 16 with the humorous Baikunther Khata. Their play was followed by Nainam Dahati Pavakah staged by Theatre Formation Paribartak. An experimental production with a huge cast, written and directed by Amajit Basu, Nainam Dahati Pavakah transports the audience to the year 2049 when Tagore is shown to have been banned in India. The play portrays that Tagore’s works were anti-establishment and so they were being burnt. The evening’s programme rounded off with recitation by Samipesu’s Debarati Mukhopadhyay, who recited some of Tagore’s romantic poems.

Shilpi Sangha’s Bhul Swarga was scheduled for the second day of the festival. The play is an adaptation of Tagore’s short story by the same name. In the second half was Kathok Performing Repertoire’s Nandinir Pala, taken from Tagore’s Raktakarabi. The fest ended with a recitation by Pradip Sen.