My Drama & me

Since 1990 Children Drama in Orissa were mostly confusing. Any play acted by children was called children play at that time. The concept of "By the children, for the children & of the children"[/I] was nowhere. The play PETU of noted playwright Pranabandhu Kar and BULU USTAD & MANI KANCHANA of Ananda Shankar Das were very few to satisfy this category. Most of the play selected by the schools to stage on their Annual Function pendal were written for the adults only, in which all the masala of love, hate, comedy tragedy,were full for the audience. In my early days in drama i.e. during 1980 to 1985 when I was busy in school theater , I preferred to choice from school textbook most of the time. Though it is better as it helps students to learn their subject in a interesting way, but it has no link with child psychology. At that time I feel a special one for young people is necessary. By getting inspiration from Late Sarojini Nayak, the than Head Mistress of Police line UGME School, Baripada I wrote my first drama for children. Afterward I had written a lot. When I was exposed to State as well as National scenario in early 90ies I found the same problem. Nothing was being written absolutely for children only. Nobody had interest in the field. The than popular playwright of Orissa were writing folk play, historical play and mythological play in the name of children play. In my first appearance in National Drama Competition in Cuttack during 1993 with my children play AME JABAB CHAHUN I begged Best National Award, which inspired me to dedicate my drama career for children only. AME JABAB CHAHUN is a play totally fulfilling the the concepts of children drama. from that day I think that little promise changed the scenario. Till to date I am in search of a ideal one. One of my play PARICHAYA , which have been written basing on the children of railway platform has been super hit in the national as well as international theater festival and competitions . This is the only children play from India selected by Publication Division, Govt. of India for publication this year. Not only me, noted playwright and organizer of National & International Theater Olympiad Kartik Chandra Ratha, B.M.D. Agrawal of NIPA , Golak Bihari DasMohapatra of Theater Movement, Suranjan DasMohapatra of KALAKAR , Prashant Kumar Puhan of Kalinga Kala Parishad have come forward for the purpose. The symposium during their festivals/competitions helps a lot to think sincerely for the children theater. My organisation PRAYAS is regularly conducting workshops & festivals. We have a lot to find , a lot of work to finish. Let's have our hands together , so that a Innocent smile sparkle in their face.