For its annual day this year, DPS Megacity featured just one stage performance. But this one item was a magnum opus of sorts with songs, dances, and skits by — not tens or hundreds but — 1,000 students. And such was the rush among parents to watch it that the show had to be staged back-to-back for two days at Science City.

Named Beyond Eternity, the show was written and co-directed by senior school headmaster Anirban Roy. “The play was a creative interpretation of The Bhagvad Gita, The Bible, and The Quran. It drew parallels between the lives of Krishna and Jesus and harmonised their teachings, alongside lessons from The Quran,” Roy said.

Pushkar Banerjee essayed the role of Jesus and Gaurov Jhunjhunwala played Krishna. “I have grown up in an atmosphere of spirituality and admire Krishna a lot. So when I heard such a play was being planned, I convinced my parents to let me participate despite being in Class XII. We have been practising for three months and our teachers have been working on it for six,” said the deputy head boy.

Anushka Dutta had been considering withdrawing from the play after being cast as Putana, the rakshasi who tried to kill the infant Krishna. “But then I took it up as a challenge as it is more difficult to win acclaim for a negative role,” she said. “Given the communal discord across the globe today, we need to address these themes in school itself so the younger generation gives peace a chance.”

The play was trilingual, and the choir sang not only in English, Hindi, and Bengali but also in Sanskrit and Latin. The dancers complemented the music with lively performances, while the large screen in the background displayed motifs such as Krishna’s peacock feather, Christ’s holy cross, and Islam’s crescent moon and star. The props, such as Arjuna’s chariot, were opulent.

“I’m a Hindu but I play Joseph, and after three months of living this role, it’s become a part of me. The goodness of both religions has merged within me,” smiled Devayudh Das of Class VIII.

Soumil Biswas, who played Ramakrishna, was intrigued that the play was enacted twice. “It was like professional theatre, that is performed repeatedly on public demand. On the second day, we were more confident than on the first,” he said.

Tilottama Mallik, vice-principal and head of the institute, said they needed this show to be grand as this was the 20th year of their school. “The chosen theme was crucial as it reflects the ethos and values we want to pass on to the next generation. They need to rise above differences and realise that all religions speak the language of love,” she said.