Ajit Natya Mahotsav Concludes; Pranay Jethi Honoured with Ajit Journalism Award 2026

Bhubaneswar: The three-day Ajit Natya Mahotsav, organised by Ajit Natya Sanstha, concluded successfully with an engaging closing ceremony that left theatre lovers deeply moved. The festival featured a series of meaningful, thought-provoking, and high-quality theatrical performances that captivated audiences throughout the three days.

On the concluding evening, senior theatre actor Premanjan Parida was honoured with the Ajit Natya Samman 2026, while eminent journalist Pranay Jethi received the Ajit Journalism Award 2026 in recognition of his contributions to the field.

The closing-day play, titled “Samakala”, focused on the growing commercialization of education and its adverse impact on students. The play portrayed how education has increasingly become a commodity, where money dictates access to learning, leaving talented yet financially weaker students struggling with an uncertain future. It highlighted the emotional journey of a student caught between parental expectations and the harsh realities of technical education, ultimately depicting the collapse of dreams and the struggle to find direction after disillusionment.

The play powerfully translated the theme of dreams and shattered aspirations through intense performances and compelling storytelling.

The cast included Bibhu, Uma, Jagannath, Siddharth, Bijay, Himanshu, Ayushman, Sangram, Payal, Yajnaseni, and Saina.
Stage management was handled by Sagar Pattnaik, assisted by Himanshu and Ayushman.

Music was composed by Kailash Senapati, while makeup was designed by Samaresh Pal.
The programme was anchored by K.P., with photography by Dipu.

Lighting design, conceptualisation, and direction were executed by Deepak Ranjan Pati, popularly known as Aman. The overall management of the festival was overseen by Dr Maya Das.

The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by senior theatre director Lala Biren Ray, marking a memorable end to the festival.