NAYAGARH: (Report- Ramakrushna Rath): The Pathani Samanta Auditorium in Nayagarh came alive today as the 6th State-Level Drama Festival kicked off. The event is organised by 'Natyadhara,' a leading local theater group. 
Nayagarh Hosts 6th State-Level Drama Festival: 'Kuhudi' Captivates Audience


Additional Superintendent of Police, Jyotiranjan Samantray, inaugurated the festival as the chief guest. Several prominent figures attended the opening ceremony, including Natyadhara President Pramod Patnaik, Secretary Laxmidhar Mohapatra, and noted directors Dr. Bijay Kumar Choudhury and Gopinath Barik.

A Powerful Start with 'Kuhudi'

On the first night, the troupe 'Vidyakanaka Srujananusthan' from Bhubaneswar performed the play 'Kuhudi' (The Mist). Written by Gopinath Barik and directed by Abakash Mishra, the drama touched the hearts of the audience with its emotional depth.
The play focuses on the decline of social values and the struggle of human conscience. Key themes included:
  • The Conflict of Greed: How selfishness and lies cloud a person's judgment like a thick mist.
  • Parental Abandonment: The painful reality of children sending their aging parents to old-age homes.
  • A Hard Question: The story asks whether parents truly become a "burden" to the children they raised with such sacrifice.

Stellar Performances

The actors received high praise for bringing the story to life. Performers included Gobinda Mohapatra, Pradipta Swain, Rajesh Balabantaray, Manas Parida, and Sarita Pradhan. Child artist Naindri Nainika Mishra also delivered a standout performance that kept the audience engaged until the very end.
The technical team supported the play beautifully, with Manas Kumar Parida handling the music and Rajesh Satapathy managing the stage lighting. The auditorium was packed with theater lovers who cheered for the performers.