The vibrant city of Kolkata recently witnessed the spectacular conclusion of the Full On Drama: Sabhagar Theatre Festival, which drew massive crowds and ended with multiple houseful performances. The festival's final day saw an overwhelming response from theatre enthusiasts who packed the venue to capacity.
Standing Ovation for Autobiography
The concluding day featured a powerful staging of Autobiography, the English adaptation of Mahesh Elkunchwar's acclaimed 1988 Marathi play Atmakatha. The 90-minute performance played to a completely packed hall and received a standing ovation from the appreciative audience. As the curtains fell, veteran actress and director Lillete Dubey emotionally told the crowd, "Kolkata has always been special to me," acknowledging the city's deep connection with her artistic work.
The play featured an ensemble cast including Denzil Smith, Lillete Dubey, Suchitra Pillai, and Sarah Hashmi. Autobiography follows the story of Anantrao Rajadhyaksha, an aging writer dictating his memoirs to Pradnya, a sharp PhD researcher who isn't afraid to challenge him. The narrative explores conflicting memories as he revisits the controversy surrounding his book about his love life, strained marriage, and brief affair.
Innovative Puppetry and Mythical Blends
Earlier in the festival, on November 14, Kolkata audiences experienced a stunning reinterpretation of ancient tales with The Nights, a contemporary puppetry performance by Anurupa Roy and the Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust. The production creatively used rod puppets, masks, shadow play, live music, and physical theatre to reimagine Scheherazade's legendary storytelling as an act of survival.
Based on One Thousand and One Nights, the performance revisited the classic tale of King Shahryar, who executed a new bride each dawn until Scheherazade halted the cycle by spinning gripping, unfinished stories night after night. Roy's layered staging and inventive design transformed the narrative into a haunting meditation on voice, resilience, and the timeless power of a woman who lived by her words.
Another highlight was Kaumudi, staged on Saturday, which beautifully blended myth, memory, and the magic of theatre. Written and directed by Abhishek Majumdar, the play featured Kumud Mishra as Satyasheel and Sandeep Shikhar as his estranged son Paritosh. The story intricately wove their personal turmoil with the epic world of the Mahabharata.
Actors Praise Kolkata's Theatre Culture
The festival provided a platform for artists to express their admiration for Kolkata's rich theatre tradition. Kumud Mishra shared, "Every time we perform in Kolkata, it brings a special kind of happiness as the city has a long-standing tradition of theatre-loving audiences."
Gopal Datt, who along with Shubhrajyoti Barat added energy and sharpness to Kaumudi, often lightening the intensity with well-timed humor, echoed similar sentiments. He stated, "Performing for a Kolkata audience is always a treat, thanks to an audience that knows how to treasure an art form like theatre."
Lillete Dubey emphasized her long connection with the city, revealing, "I've been performing here for 30 years. I am such a theatre festival freak that if anyone anywhere is doing one, I show up like a bad penny."
The four actors in Kaumudi created a gripping stage experience that moved seamlessly between real-life conflict and the mythical world they brought alive, demonstrating the diverse theatrical offerings that made the Sabhagar Theatre Festival a remarkable success.
