A play narrating the story of Savitri and Satyavan was staged brilliantly at Madhya Pradesh State Tribal Museum here on Friday. The play was performed under the regular series of theatre performances ‘Abhinayan’.

It was a ‘Nautanki’ style play, hence was titled Nautanki wherein the artists showcased the entire story of Savitri and Satyavan. Directed by Ramsiya Sharma, the play was beautifully presented by Brij lok Kala Mandal.

At the museum of Friday's gimmick, the artists presented various aspects of the Satyavan and Savitri episodes with great enthusiasm. Savitri loses her heart to Satyavan, she is a woman of virtues and loves her husband deeply. She knew that her husband will live for only one year, yet she marries Satyavan as he is the love of her life. When the year ends, Yamraj comes to take the life of her husband, then Savitri succeeds in getting her husband's life back from the Yamraj.

Yamraj and Savitri’s conversation was beautifully weaved into strong dialogues and lyrical light design. The artists in the characters of King Satyavan, Savitri, Yamraj, Pandit, beggar, minister and Gauraval acted beautifully in this gimmick. The audience was enthralled to watch such a performance.

It is to be noted that Hathrasi style was founded in 1890 by Pandit Natharam Sharma. In this style, acting with singing was the major factor. He also wrote books on the nautanki staging which is guiding future generations to this topic.

“Nautanki is a developed form of farce, the practice of mixing poetry and ordinary colloquial work in the novel has been from the beginning.

The characters talk with each other, but deep feelings and messages are often revealed through rhyme. Nautanki styled stories often happen on some particular special or important topic,” informed the director of the play.