MUMBAI: In a captivating performance, MikrOPERA from Spain presented 'Lyric Dragonfly', a poignant musical monodrama penned by Zelia Lanaspa. Under the direction of Amparo Nogues and Zelia Lanaspa, the play tells the transformative story of a timid assistant who discovers their true voice when forced to replace a renowned tenor. This powerful exploration of self-discovery, identity, and the liberating power of music was showcased at Abhimanch.

NCPA's 'Kalgitura' Revives Ancient Folk Tradition

The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) presented 'Kalgitura', a poignant play that brings to life the 700-year-old folk tradition of singing Purana-inspired tales. Set in Parsul, Maharashtra, the play follows the villagers' quest to revive this fading art form. Written by Datta Patil and directed by Sachin Shinde, 'Kalgitura' was showcased at Shri Ram Centre, leaving audiences mesmerized by its rich cultural heritage.

Canmass (Odisha) performed ‘Nihsanga Nayak’, written by Sailesvar Nanda. The play presents the life and contributions of Kabichandra Kalicharan Pattnaik, highlighting his pivotal role in shaping Odissi dance, music, theatre, and early Odia cinema, despite personal and professional struggles. The play was directed by Sriman Narayan Mishra, and showcased at Little Theatre Group Auditorium.

NSD Graduate students of 2024 performed ‘On The Surface’. Based on Sara Abubakkar's ‘Yuddha’ and ‘Hai Raam’, On The Surface explores the brutal impact of war on men, women, and children, weaving a powerful narrative on human fragility and moral responsibility. The play was directed by Shruti V. and showcased at Bahumukh.

Mandali Talkies (Maharashtra) performed ‘Middle Class Dream of a Summer’s Night’. The play reimagines Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with a modern Indian twist, blending Shakespearean magic with Indian cultural humor through diverse accents and a middle-class setting. The play was adapted, and directed by Amitosh Nagpal and showcased at Kamani.

All the performances were followed by the audience having an open interaction session with the directors, cast, and crew, about the production process in the segment ‘Meet the Director’.

Advitiya - Day 13: In Street Plays, Satyawati College performed ‘Silent Shadows’, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University performed ‘Beep’, Rukmini Devi Institute of Advanced Studies performed ‘Yeh Bachchon ka Khel Nahin’, and Hindu College performed a play about Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In Open Stage, ‘Sculptor-Sculpture' was performed by Renu Pal, Vikas Garg, Sunita, and Alok. Other performances in the segment were : Dance by a child artist Kripa Bijalwan; another dance performance by Sapna Mishra; poetry recitation by R.K. Ganesh; and Qawwali by the Tilism Ensemble.