Bhartendu Natya Akademi’s winter workshop to culminate with Hindi performs Abhigyan Shakuntalam and Gadget in Lucknow

The first play, Abhigyan Shakuntalam, initially written by the poet Kalidasa, will likely be staged on the UP Sangeet Natak Academy (UPSNA) on January 22. The play Gadget will likely be staged on the Kala Mandapam auditorium on January 29.

Workshop director and BNA college member Privendra Singh informed HT City, “These students, from teenagers to enthusiasts in the 50-plus age group, were part of the workshop. According to the play scripts, we have divided them into two categories, and they will be performing on different days. Most of them are first-timers and are doing really well.”

1999-batch BNA alumna Rozi Mishra, who’s directing Abhigyan Shakuntalam, mentioned, “It is a Sanskrit script written by the great poet, and we have adapted it into a Hindi play. The play is being produced according to the principles of ancient Bharatnatyashastra. Dialogues, mudras, vocals, and dance are integral parts of the play. The costumes are also being designed according to that era.”

She has directed 75 performs to this point. “A good thing about my cast is that it has 13 girls, so I could take creative liberty to play with mudras and dance, which has been choreographed by Bharatnatyam expert Navneet Rastogi. It was really challenging, as these days youngsters are weak in Hindi and this is a pure Sanskrit play, but they adapted to it well,” she added.

Privendra can also be directing the play Gadget, written by Lucknow-based filmmaker Vinay Kumar and tailored for the stage by Vijit Singh. He has directed 19 performs to this point.

“This is a contemporary play where modern gadgets and youngsters’ thirst to own them play an important part in the script. The story is based on an investigation after the bodies of a boy and a girl are found following a freak accident on a highway. Renowned lyricist-composer Akhil Tiwari has composed the music. The entire work and these upcoming plays are being produced under the guidance of our director, Bipin Kumar,” mentioned the director.