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Sabhagar Theatre Festival 2019
Kolkata, 25th March 2019: Centre Stage Creations & Sanskriti Sagar presented its 4th editionof ‘Sabhagar Theatre Festival 2019’ from 22nd to 24th March 2019 (Friday to Sunday) at G.D. Birla Sabhagar, 6:30 pm onwards. Three different plays were showcased at the festival – ‘Raavan Ki Ramayan’, ‘Ballygunge 1990’ and ‘Titli Ki Maut’.
Event Schedule & Brief:
On the first day (22nd March 2019 – Friday) of the festival, the viewers were solely devoted into the play ‘Raavan Ki Ramayan’ which is written and directed by the very popular and famous director Atul Satya Koushik and production house of the Films and Theatre Society. The play stars well known famous names like – Puneet Issar, Nishtha Paliwal Tomar, Gaurav Jakhu, Tarun Dang and Latika Jain. Puneet Issar, who played the iconic character of Duryodhana in the popular TV series, ‘Mahabharat’. In ‘Raavan Ki Ramayan’, the actor has reprised the lead role of Raavan.
Synopsis of the play:“Raavan Ki Ramayan” which features the legendary actor Puneet Issar in the role of Raavan is a re-look at the history from the point of view of those who lost and never got a chance to tell their side of story. A virtuous king of a prosperous kingdom is outraged at the ravaged modesty of his sister and sets out for a dignified revenge. But he falls for the defiance and audacity of an abducted woman and ultimately throws his kingdom into a great war against the will of many of his ministers, wife including his eldest son. The war within him poses him against the questions of his wife, sons, gods and ancestors and war outside ultimately becomes the eternal war of Sur and Asur with high stakes from history on both sides. What unfolds is an epic hitherto unheard.
Raavan Ki Ramayan 
Raavan Ki Ramayan 
Titli Ki Maut
Director’s told the
On the second day, (23rd March 2019) of the festival, ‘Ballygunge 1990 – (Love is an endless mystery)’ were showcased. Atul Satya Koushik was the director of the play. The play stars well known names like – Annup Sonii, Nishtha Paliwal Tomar and Kunal Kaushik. Famous Film, TV and Theatre actors Annup Sonii and Nishtha Paliwal Tomar took the audience through this episode of spine chilling thriller. The production bears the stamp of a typical Atul Satya Koushik production i.e. lavish sets, costumes, music and a spectacular wholesome experience for the audience. This play was a co-production of The Films and Theatre Society and Land of Culture.
Synopsis of the play: After
creating a brand value in grand Historical productions, Musicals, Comedies and
Social Satires, ace Theatre Writer and Director Atul Satya Koushik comes
up with yet another original play for his audience; this time a spectacular
suspense thriller play in Hindi‘Ballygunge 1990’ – Love is an endless
mystery”.
‘Ballygunge 1990’ is a eighty minute thriller Play which is set in the year 1990 and the story unfolds in Ballygunge, a famous place in (the then) Calcutta. Kartik and Vasuki had been in a very passionate relationship for more than 10 years before Kartik left Vasuki behind and set out to chase his dreams in Mumbai. Vasuki is now married to a famous painter, Binoy Das and is living a life full of regrets and vendetta as she holds Kartik and their failed love responsible for her miserable life. Now she has invited him over for a coffee at her mansion on the evening of Durga Pooja. Kartik is a bit confused and happily surprised to see the same ten year old passion and love in Vasuki’s eyes. Vasuki is unpleasantly surprised to see the same hostility and detachment in Kartik’s eyes. A well crafted plan is going to change the course of their lives forever.
Director’s Note: In ten years of doing theatre I have always tried to give myself and my team new challenges. We have pulled off lavish historical productions, musicals and comedies in past 10 years. Over years I observed that suspense, thriller and mysteries is one genre that has not been explored much on Hindi theatre stage. So I wanted to do something in that genre and wrote this play “Ballygunge 1990”. The challenge while writing such plays is that you are writing thriller with one mind but there are 600-700 minds in audience trying to crack your suspense points. So you have to think ahead of them and try to fill all loopholes and make it a watertight script.
Having written the script the next challenge was to find the apt cast. I am happy that I could convince Annup Sonii to play the male lead. He comes with a lot of experience and professionalism and adds lot of value to the production with this immaculate performance. On the other hand, Nishtha as the female lead is also a perfect cast with all the mysteries in her persona and speech.
I have tried to live upto the expectations of my audience in terms of sets, costumes, music, light and sound. I hope I entertain my audience enough with this new experiment too.
On the last day (24th March 2019) of the festival, ‘Titli Ki Maut’ has showcased. This was directed by famous Tollywood actor Chaiti Ghoshal.
Synopsis of the play: ‘Titli’ the youngest daughter of a respected business family committed suicide out of nowhere. The family was shattered and taken aback by the dreadful incident. Everyone in the family , mother , three daughters and the maids were mourning the death , when Sama Srivastava a CBI officer from ‘women cell’ knocked their door. She has just paid a visit to do a routine enquiry of the suicide.
Things started to change; the routine enquiry opened a pandora’s box. The play travels back and forth around the death in course of the interrogation. Three daughters, the mother and the old maid gave different versions of the incidents leading up to the death. The stories not only differed from one another but also blamed each other. Skeleton began to come out of the closet. It seemed everyone played a big part in the ‘suicidal’ death of the youngest daughter Titli. The one to one interrogation created a chaotic ambience and stir in all the relationships. And finally the officer with her shrewd mental investigation drove them to a point where they all broke down and gave in. They accepted their role in the death of their daughter. Suddenly they noticed that the CBI officer Sama Srivastava is not there in the house anymore. Only her card is lying on the table, the mother dialed the number and discovered that Sama Srivastava never existed. No one visited from the CBI office. It was all in their mind probably the conscience. They are responsible for Titli’s suicide. They have to live with it.
