A Ray of Hope! Birla High School students bring 'Goopy-Bagha', 'Hirak Raja' to life on stage

Celebrating the Birth Anniversary of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray and focussing on sustainable development of the human race, Birla High School, Kolkata organised its Annual Day and Prize Distribution ceremony through the staging of 'Ray of Hope: A Sustainable Future.

Through this event, the school took the initiative to sensitize people and spread awareness among everyone on the lines of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations in the hope of a better world by 2030.

The Annual Day of Birla High School kicked off with the welcoming of the chief guests and handing them a token of honour which was followed by the musical, 'Ray of Hope : A Sustainable Future' where students showcased their exemplary talent in staging the theatrical production that was set amidst grandeur and cultural opulence.

The theme of the show was conceptualised by intermingling the narratives of his masterpieces 'Goopy Gyne-Bagha Byne' and 'Hirak Rajar Deshe'. It was an attempt to try an address the problems of the modern day world and thereby find a plausible solution to the same, incorporating the SDGs.

"Satyajit Ray is a Pride of India. His take on Indian society and culture are well illustrated in his films, which have been appreciated world wide. As a school we wished to pay a tribute to him on his birthday and connect the same with a message to the young torch bearers of our nation that in the times to come they will help undo the wrongs in society as the SDGs recommend," said Loveleen Saigal, Pricipal of Birla High School while highlighting the immense contribution of Ray in Indian Cinema.

The Vidya Mandir Auditorium was filled with joy and anticipation as the students took the stage under the able guidance of the teachers and mesmarised the audience with their spectacular performance. The event witnessed the presence of the likes of Sujata Sen and Barun Chanda as chief guests on May 2 and 3 respectively. Both Sen and Chanda lauded the effort and the concept which the school had undertaken to make a change in the society.

From the very onset of conceptualization till the very last moment of execution, our students have put in their best. Be it the song, dance, acting, tech support, prop making, the students enjoyed every bit of the show," said Spandan Banerjee, a teacher of the school.

This was followed by the prize distribution ceremony where students were recognised for their brilliant performances in academics and co-curricular activities for the 2023-24 session.