Final Countdown

For the nine finalists of the Purushottam Karandak,the road to the finals has been a combination of hard work,dedication and unique scripts.

For the nine finalists of the Purushottam Karandak,the road to the finals has been a combination of hard work,dedication and unique scripts

Even in its 49th year,the Purushottam Karandak inter-college drama festival has not failed to bring into the spotlight issues that need to be highlighted in society. Right from the themes of child abuse to even the Mumbai blasts of 2008,and from the emotions of a tiger as seen from the eyes of a wildlife photographer to the strained relationship between a father and his son,they are all there. As Hemant Vaidya,secretary,Maharashtriya Kalopasak,Pune,says,The whole idea has always been to ensure that themes which are relevant in the current times are highlighted. It gives the younger generation to talk freely about them. This year too,themes were varied. While youth and socio-cultural issues remain the main highlight,there are different ways in which the finalists have viewed them. From subtle performances to in your face acts,the teams that have made it to the finals,have come here owing to their powerful performances and themes.

Of the 51 colleges,in the eliminations that were held from August 16 to August 30,nine have made through to the finals. Amongst the finalists are College of Engineering Pune (COEP)-Rang Maza Vegala’,Sinhagad College of Engineering (SCOE)- Hitaguj,Cummins College of Engineering-Bagulbua,MIT College of Engineering (MITCOE)-Mrugajal,SP College- Pranimatra,Garware College of Commerce-K mhnje Karamanuk,DP College of Engineering- Ranomal,Abasaheb Garware College-Shubhra Chandanya Muthbhar’ and Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT)-Chana Khau Lokhandach.

MITCOE student Aroha Welankar,who directed the play ‘Mrugajal’,says,We were very clear about what we wanted to do. And we didn’t want to touch anything cliched. A straightforward simple plot line,with hard hitting acting was what we concentrated on while making ‘Mrugajal’. Dealing with the issue of a father-son relationship,the play talks about the father who has failed in all aspects of his life. In fact he has painted larger than life pictures of achievements to his son,who goes out into the real world only to find out that life is not all rosy. This realisation hits him where he blames his father. More than that,both father and son live in denial and keep passing the blame onto the other, he adds.

A repeating factor that all the nine finalists adhere to is that the play on the whole is more than just the theme or the acting. Plots,sub-plots as well as the treatment of the play affect its visibility and makes a play stand out, says Apoorva Bardapurkar,final year student at Cummins,who directed the highly acclaimed play ‘Bagulbua’,dealing with the issue of child abuse. Another interesting theme that has propped up is that of the Mumbai attacks. Called ‘Shubhra chandnya muthbhar’,performed by the students of Abasaheb Garware College,the play deals with the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. Pandurang Jawale,incharge of the art circle says,It explores the relation of a family where three people are killed. The mother,father and sister of the central protagonist are killed while he himself is rendered handicapped. His younger sister who survived the same is tasked with caring for him. Its a poignant tale of a young man who manages to find his will to survive after undergoing the tragedy.

(The finals will be staged at the Bharat Natya Mandir on September 8 and 9)

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