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Journalism of Courage
Actor-director Manoj Joshis Chanakya wins the first Bhilwara Natya Puraskar award.
Mumbai-based director Manoj Joshis play Chanakya,with its pointers on how to become a good administrator,won the first Bhilwara Natya Puraskar award recently. Instituted by the LNJ Bhilwara Group,the first prize carries a cash award of Rs 2 lakh. The runner-up,who took home a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh,was Main Rahi Masoom,a play on Urdu poet Rahi Masoom Raza by Hyderabad-based Rangdhara. The plays compelled us to think, says Rajendra Bagrodia,a jury member. While Chanakya insisted that a king forget his own happiness for the sake of the people he governs,Main Rahi8230; spoke about being Indian rather than defining ourselves by region or religion, he added.
Amid slogans by several members of the cast and audience,Gaur announced that he was opting out of the competition. The jury,however,maintains that Gaurs announcement had not been communicated to them officially. The play had already been judged while it was being staged, iterates Bagrodia. That wasnt the only issue that marred the inaugural edition of the competition. Theatreperson Mohan Maharishi,who was part of the jury,was missing in action as he is travelling. But he had already watched the video recordings of the plays and attended meetings. So,even if he was absent during the staging of the plays,he remains a jury member, defended Bagrodia.
