State-level drama festival organized by 'Sankalp' inaugurated in Odisha

The 18th State-level Odia Drama Festival, organized by the Cultural Arts Council ‘Sankalp’ Rourkela in collaboration with the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Government of Odisha and Rourkela Steel Plant, was inaugurated today evening at the local Civic Center. Former Minister and Rourkela MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak attended as the chief guest and formally inaugurated it. In his speech, Shri Nayak appreciated the steps taken by ‘Sankalp’ and said that this will help preserve the Odia identity. With the participation of retired professor and eminent playwright Dr. Sanjay Hati as the special guest, a movement is being prepared on the stage. Drama plays an important role in correcting political and social injustice. Therefore, he emphasized on the composition and performance of quality dramas. In the program organized, Dr. Kishori Dash presided over the function and delivered the welcome address, explaining the theme of the institution. General Secretary Prakash Sahani proposed the vote of thanks. Another advisor and prominent theatre personality Prasanna Kumar Dash and advisor Manju Mukherjee were on the stage. The program was coordinated by the announcer Subhasree Dash. In the first evening, the play was staged by Balasore 'Nayika'. The play was written by Vijay Mishra and directed by Susmita Rana alias Patnaik, music by Shakti Prasad Mishra, Alok Rakesh Chand, stage management was excellent, anticipation, acting by Swasti Sundar Mohapatra, Mohit Mohan Das, Susmita Rana Patnaik, Sushil Patnaik, Hari Shankar Sahu, Pradeep Behera, Vijaya Nirukh, Ghanashyam Mohalik participated. Various incidents show that life is more strange than living. Sometimes it seems like a heart-wrenching story. The most strange thing in this world is man. No one ever thought how Bilas Babu's life would be disrupted for a small piece of paper. Man is running blindly, despising the present in the hope of getting something big in the future. The play was set in motion with such a story. The director of the play was honored with the 'Sankalp' award and her theatre organization with the Chittarana Smriti award. All the actors/actresses and participants were given certificates of appreciation. Prabir Jena, Ranu Mohapatra, Priyadaran Raut, Prabir Mishra, Rashmi Rekha Das, Batakrishna Satapathy, Sanjay Mohanty, Kunjanlal Bose, Ramesh Chandra Sethi, Dil Barik, Deepak Padhi, Hemant Behera contributed significantly to the organization in organizing the program.