City audience applauds Bengali theatre festival

KOLKATA: Thespians and theatre lovers got a new platform on Thursday as mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and theatre personality Sobha Sen inaugurated Drishyakabya - Bengali Theatre Festival presented by Times Of India and Godfrey Philips.
The festival will continue till January 11 at the Academy of Fine Arts. The event is supported by Life Insurance Corporation of India, Forum Projects, Nitraa Furniture, Expressions with 24 Ghanta as television partner, Amar FM as radio partner, Kolkatamirror.com as online partner and Pee Dee as outdoor partner.
On January 10, Sayak and Nandikar will stage Dournama and Ajanatabaas respectively. On January 11, Chetana and Bohurupee will stage Putul Nacher Itikatha and Beerashulka respectively.
Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya appreciated that in spite of an English newspaper, The Times Of India is organising a festival on Bengali theatre. Incidentally, a Russian, Gerasim Stephenovich Levedov organised the first Bengali play in Kolkata.
"TOI not only presents city news but is also trying to touch the passions of the citizens. The newspaper is lighting a lamp that will help people to follow the right track. The endeavour is appreciable," the mayor said.
Sobha Sen also supported the idea of promoting theatre and felt that "this can restore the glory of theatre of the old days". On the inaugural day, Manicktala Spandan organised Anti Clock, a play based on '9/11'. "The play was very nice. I am looking forward to the other plays and hope they will also be as good. Thanks to TOI for organising such programme," said Amitava Chandra, a theatre lover.