The young students are creating a niche for themselves in theatre industry. Here on Tuesday, the students of Madhya Pradesh School of Drama (MPSD) mesmerized the audience with their performance at Antarang Hall, Bharat Bhavan.
The students of MPSD of batch 2014-15 performed a biographical drama ‘Skandagupta’ which was much appreciated by the theatre lovers of the city. Written by a renowned playwright Jai Shankar Prasad, the play is directed by Alok Chatterjee. Notably, students from 10 States including Uttarakhand, Delhi, Chandigarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were a part of the show. Interestingly, many of the students spoke in Hindi for the first time in this play.
Jai Shankar Prasad’s Skandagupta is all about politics, bravery and gaining the power to rule and narrates the life span of King Skandagupta. The traces from his life were spectacularly showcased by the students of MPSD.
The play begins with showcasing the tug of war between two kingdoms. On one hand where the whole army is busy in fighting for the kingdom, queen Anantdevi is conspiring to make her son Purgupta the king. On the other hand the king of Malwa dies and Bandhuverma asks for a help from Skandagupta. During the war, Bandhuverma and his brother get seriously injured. Soon, Skandagupta comes to rescue Bandhuverma’s wife Jaymala, sister Devsena, and daughter of Vanik Vijya. later, Bandhuverma expresses his wish to Skandagupta to take the charge of the throne and he accepts it. Devsena and Skandagupta fall for each other, but due to some crucial situations they fall apart. The conspiracy by Queen Anantdevi comes to an end and sad news of Bandhuverma’s death in war is received.
Soon the death news of Jaymala makes things even worse. As the play moves forward Skandagupta expresses his love for Devsena but she refuses as she wants to help the poor and over this Skandgupta pledges not to marry all his life. The play ends with the song Himadri Tring Shring.
Alok Chatterjee said, “This play is being staged after 31 years and it was first staged by Baba Karanth. I have done some manipulations in the play concerning the dialogue delivery, costume, stage craft and treatment of the play.