National School of Drama opens new avenues for North East children

For close interaction and exchange of ideas and culture, the National School of Drama (NSD) recently organised North East Children Drama Festival here.

By Gautam Parihar

New Delhi, Sept. 22 : For close interaction and exchange of ideas and culture, the National School of Drama (NSD) recently organised 'North East Children Drama Festival' here.

The inaugural play was from Arunachal Pradesh, called 'Chutti'. The play based on the play by Rabindra Nath Tagore, which depicts the lives of youngsters when they grow up. How they behave with parents, how they find conflict between what parents teach and what they see and observe outside.

The drama tries to portray what happens to protagonists when he leaves the village (North East) for Delhi for further studies.

"Its main purpose was that the culture of the people over there is totally different. Whenever we go there, we have to take the inland permit because they have a feeling that we are from India. We have to drive out this thinking connect them with the people of the rest of the country, " said A.K.Khanna, Director of the Arunachali play.

The play was directed by the artists and theatre personality of the NSD but the artists were from the North East.

For some of them, it was a wonderful experience performing in Delhi. They see a sense of pride in imparting their culture and way of life to the audience of the capital.

"It feels very good to be performing over here, because I have never been to Delhi. I have learned a lot of things during this drama," Angitai, an artist.

Hagimenna, another artist added, "I have never been here before. It's my pleasure to be here, particularly in this drama and its very fine."

There were also plays from Meghalya, Nagaland and Tripura.

The last play from Tripura, 'Hurray', depicts a conflict between children and urban planner. Children resist their playground being converted into a housing complex. When the kids don't get any help from their elders they take up the matters themselves and fight the land mafias and win.

The play inspires students to fight peacefully for their just cause.

"The children have performed excellently. The children from non-Hindi belt have performed so well in Hindi that I feel really good," said Durgesh, an audience.

ANI