The students of the Madhya Pradesh School of Drama (MPSD) gave an outstanding performance here on Thursday at MPSD premises. The students staged a few scenes of a noted Hindi play, Virasaat.
The scenes of Mahesh Elkunchwar play were directed by a noted theatre artist and playwright, Arvind Pandey. The students presented as many as six scenes.
Notably, the students were trained in a workshop held at MPSD where they learnt the basics of acting, theatrical presentations and also the stage craft. Interestingly, the play was divided into six divisions in which six groups of students presented six different scenes of the play.
This event was organised as a finale of students' workshop.
The play, Virasaat deals with the history of a Despande family, based in Dharangaon, Maharashtra, whose changing fortunes mirror the social and cultural changes that mark the twentieth century. We follow the fortunes and struggles of the Deshpandes, once highly respected and well-off landed gentry, now caught between the memory of their own aristocratic past and their penury at present. As members of several generations come to terms with their past in drastically different ways, we see an image of India negotiating its way through 'modernity'.
The play was staged in a different manner where the student groups presented different segments of the play. It was a unique presentation which was much enjoyed by the audience as well as the faculty members of the MPSD. The students also received an opportunity to explore their skills in a broader manner.