Jamshedpur, Dec. 11: Moving away from DJ Nights and quiz contests, city-based Dakshina Bharata Mahila Samaj (DBMS) today launched a drama festival for students of the four schools under its banner.
Students of the schools would present five plays in three languages (English, Hindi and Sanskrit) at the DBMS English School auditorium. The drama festival, which ends in December 11, would culminate with the staging of the Tamil play Thumbikain Thadei. Members of the DBMS Samaj would stage this play at the Madrasi Sammelan.
The idea behind organising this event was to rope in the youth, who are increasingly loosing touch with the culture and tradition of the country, said Rajni Shekhar, Vice-principal of DBMS English School.
"The younger generation is gradually moving away from our traditions and dramatics in today's society. So we thought of starting this drama festival, which would help us promote the love for drama among the students and also help us tap budding talents," she explained.
The first play, which was staged today by the students of DBMS Kadma Girls? High School, was the award-winning creation Swami and Friends of R.K. Narayan's Malgudi Days. Arguably among the best stories for children, the staged version, at the auditorium, had the look of a village in Tamil Nadu.
The second play for the day was a stage adaptation of the Tamil epic Nala Damayanti and was staged by the DBMS Hindi School girls. What made this attempt special was that the dialogues were in Sanskrit.
On tomorrow's platter is the turn of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Speckled Band. Later students of DBMS Career Academy would enact the Hindi play, Bat Ek Raat Ki.
Not every play to be stages is an adaptation of a famous literary work. The last play, on December 10, is titled Singhasan Khali Hai and has been written by Rohini Sathe, a senior teacher at DBMS English School.
"Days of practice and hard work has gone behind this festival, which would be followed by a workshop to be conducted by eminent theatre artistes from Jamshedpur and outside for the drama-enthusiastic students," said Bhanumati Neelkanthan, chairperson and founder director of DBMS.
Also on cards is the first ever Dramatics Club to be opened at the school in the next academic year.
"This club would conduct workshops and seminars to arouse an interest in good dramatics among the students," added Neelkanthan.