THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, April 15: Marking the eve of World Art Day, theatre artists in Palamu launched Phir Milenge, the Hindi adaptation of noted Bengali playwright Chandan Sen’s acclaimed play Dayabaddha.
Adapted by theatre artist Saikat Chatterjee, the play was formally unveiled at an event held at the Bengali Library. The programme began with a ceremonial worship of the script before an image of Goddess Saraswati, followed by its official launch.
Noted Guests Attend Launch
Art critic Ravindra Tripathi attended as the Chief Guest, while poet and writer Ravi Shankar Pandey launched the script. Guests of honour included poet Navin Sahay, writer Prabhat Mishra ‘Suman’, and veteran theatre artist Prasiddh Ram.
Also present were Prasenjit Boral (President) and Jayanta Biswas (Secretary) of the Bangiya Durga Bari Puja Association, along with several local artists and contributors.
Playwright Chandan Sen joined the event online and extended his best wishes. He described Dayabaddha as a widely discussed play that has been staged internationally and appreciated the Hindi adaptation by Saikat Chatterjee.
Focus on Theatre Culture in Palamu
Speakers highlighted the efforts of the Masoom Art Group in sustaining theatre culture in the region. Ravindra Tripathi called their work “commendable,” noting that keeping theatre alive in a region like Palamu is a significant achievement.
Ravi Shankar Pandey and Navin Sahay also emphasised Palamu’s rich theatre legacy, while Prabhat Mishra Suman pointed out the challenges involved in adapting plays and expressed interest in seeing its stage performance.
About the Play
Phir Milenge tells the story of a truck driver navigating life’s struggles while fulfilling his relationships with sincerity and responsibility. According to Saikat Chatterjee, the adaptation carefully considers the differences between Bengali and Hindi theatre audiences.
The script was developed under the supervision of Pooja Gulshan Mishra.
Premiere in Shimla
The play is scheduled to premiere on June 9 in Shimla as part of the All India Drama Competition organised by the All India Artists Association.