Theatre voice of soul, must reach rural folk too: Guv

Lucknow: Governor Anandiben Patel on Friday said theatre should not remain confined to cities and must reach villages as well. She was addressing the sixth day of the golden jubilee celebrations of Bhartendu Natya Akademi (BNA).

Patel said art in India was not merely a medium of expression but the voice of the soul, and that theatre, music and literature have always guided society.

She said theatre can serve as a mirror of society and play an important role in spreading awareness against social evils such as female foeticide, dowry and substance abuse.

“The diverse arts and traditions have come down to us from our ancestors as priceless heritage, and preserving and promoting it is our moral and constitutional responsibility,” Patel said.

As part of the celebrations, a play, ‘Rashmirathi’, based on Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s 1952 poem, was presented under the direction of Manvendra Tripathi by Sanskritic Sangam, Gorakhpur.

The play centred on Karna from the Mahabharata and explored themes of duty, destiny, loyalty and moral conflict in the backdrop of war and social hierarchy. The production underscored the message that a person should be judged not by lineage or the circumstances of birth but by conduct and deeds.

Another performance, ‘Maalan Albeli’, was presented by Malini Awasthi. The folk singer performed songs including ‘Railiya Bairan’, ‘Saiya Mile Ladkaiyan’ and ‘Kankavva Balyya’.

Awasthi also spoke about the struggles and challenges she faced in her journey as a folk singer, saying that despite taunts and obstacles, courage and passion kept her going and helped her stay focused on her goals.