Theatre, for Sohini Sengupta, is life and Nandikar a legacy she has inherited from her parents. Days before the curtain rises on the 40th edition of the much-loved and eagerly awaited Nandikar National Theatre Festival, the actor-director spoke about the plays waiting to be staged this year and more.
Nandikar Natya Mela began its journey in 1984. Since then theatre workers from different parts of the country have been coming to the festival every year.
A scene from the play Madhabi
“Not only does the festival showcase plays performed by Nandikar, but different theatre groups perform here. Nandikar Natya Mela is an annual affair and theatre connoisseurs wait for it all year long,” said Sengupta. “Such a big event requires a lot of funds. Many times I have said that I can’t carry it forward anymore but the festival has always given back. There have been times when people have come up with cheques worth as much as Rs 50,000. I have always seen my Baba and Ma (Rudraprasad Sengupta and Swatilekha Sengupta) gave priority to theatre all through their lives. I want to continue that tradition. The response that we get is always overwhelming. Tickets are sold out in no time. This year, too, some of the productions are already houseful.”
Rudraprasad Sengupta playing in Madhabi
The festival flags off with Chetana’s Mareech Sangbad on December 16. The play directed by Arun Mukhopadhyay will be staged at the Academy of Fine Arts at 3pm, followed by an inaugural programme at 5.45pm and felicitation xeremony for Rudraprasad Sengupta.
Day I will also see Ravan Reloaded directed by Debasish Ray, and Aajker Shahjahan directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay.
Several of Nandikar’s own plays such as Panchajanya, Madhabi, Manush and Ek theke baaro.
Panchajanya directed by Sohini Sengupta
Productions by other theatre groups to be performed at the festival include Chetana’s Mahatma Vs. Gandhi directed by Sujan Mukhopadhyay, Kittonkhola by Ichheymoto, Barricade by Debesh Chattopadhyay, Mitali by Naye Natua, Binodini Opera by Angik and Pratham Rajnoitik Hatya by Anya Theatre.
Programme schedule
Nandikar Natya Mela also brings an opportunity for theatre lovers to watch plays from other parts of the country. “This year we also have quite a number of productions from outside Bengal — from Jaipur. Uttar Pradesh,” Sengupta said.
“I still remember some years ago, during the festival, a boy came up to me and said ‘I am from Jammu and I want to perform’. Everyone was sceptical. I gave him a chance to perform. Everyone was spellbound by his acting. He is Luckyjee Gupta. He has been closely associated with the festival since then. This year he will be performing Maa Mujhe Tagore bana de,” Sengupta said.
Maa Mujhe Tagore Bana de by Luckyjee Gupta
Kharu ka Khara Qissa by Backstage from Allahabad and Hunkaro by Ujaagar Dramatic Association from Jaipur are other attractions.
On December 25, Nandikar Natya Mela will play Santa Claus to kids with a bouquet of plays by its Children's Ensemble — Lakshmaner Shaktishel, Alice In Wonderland and Podipisir Bormibakso. “Children starting from the age of four will perform,” Sengupta said.
You can book your tickets online at https://nandikar.net/national-theatre-festival-2023/
