Playwright Manoj Mitra may be no more but his works live on through performances by fans. Shortly before the AG Block resident’s demise, BE College Ex-Students’ Association staged his Rajdarshan at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan.

The play was about King Nanda who contracts an incurable disease. To escape his misfortune, the ailing king announces hefty donations to Brahmins on an auspicious day. A greedy Brahmin named Lambodar, eager to become wealthy, decides to travel to the faraway kingdom. He coerces a simple blacksmith, Abhiram, into carrying him but upon their arrival, the king suddenly dies. Lambodar then prays for a boon to enable his spirit to enter the king’s lifeless body.

The two-hour drama featured a cast of 17, primarily senior members and their spouses, who captivated the audience. Srikumar Bhattacharya’s portrayal of Abhiram showcased his acting prowess. “Being a senior citizen, I found carrying a 65kg Lambodar on my back while delivering dialogues demanding,” Srikumar smiled.

Kunal Bhattacharya not only essayed the role Lambodar but also directed the entire play. “Rajdarshan is a story that addresses social degeneration — a theme that remains relevant even 50 years after it was written,” said Kunal. “Our greatest achievement was the overwhelming audience appreciation. Instead of singling out any one character, they praised all the actors, which highlights our excellent teamwork.”

Sharmistha De Sarkar, portraying Jashomati, impressed even though it was her first stage performance. As did Partha Ganguly as the transgender help and Mahua Palit as the hunchback palace help. “Our director taught us every nuance of the play — every gesture and delivery of dialogue. The lines were so emotional that tears came naturally. My 85-year-old mother in the audience was moved and asked me how I managed to act so well,” Palit smiled.

Nikhil Chatterjee too delivered an intense performance as Chandraketu and Shantanu Bhattacharya, as the resurrected King Nanda, delivered transformation with hilarious gestures and dialogues that delighted the audience.

Tips for the elderly

Elderly residents should stay active physically, mentally and socially – this was the message imparted by a geriatrician at a World Senior Citizens’ Day celebration at Rabindra Okakura Bhavan.

The event was organsied by Initiative for Scientific and Public Awareness Target (ISPAT), a Salt Lake-based organisation. They had invited several doctors to address the gathering and also held cultural and felicitation programmes.

“Senior citizens should engage in any exercise they feel comfortable with, such as yoga or walking,” said Dr Antarikhyo Bordoloi, geriatrician at Manipal Hospital. “But they should also solve crosswords, read books and newspapers, write, and pursue hobbies that stimulate brain function. This will help cope with the ageing process.”

“While in service one interacts with colleagues and peers, but post-retirement people often get isolated. They must actively participate in social activities to maintain balance thereafter,” she added.

There were also insights by orthopaedic specialist Dr Arghya Chattopadhyay and consultant rheumatologist Dr Parthajit Das both of whom stressed on exercise and early intervention for ailments.

The show also felicitated singer and music director Kalyan Sen Barat and physician Dr Pradip Mitra with Baristha Samman. “We want to look after our elderly the way they look after the township,” said ISPAT secretary Ritesh Basak. “We are working to create a common platform, through a WhatsApp group, where seniors can share their problems and needs for this.”