AJIT’s three-day National Theatre Festival to begin from January 21 in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Marking its 26th foundation day, the Abhinaya Jagruti Institute of Theatre (AJIT), one of Odisha’s leading theatre organisations founded by veteran actor Ajit Das, is set to host the 14th edition of the Ajit National Theatre Festival.

The three-day festival will be held at Bhanjakala Mandap from January 21 to January 23, with performances beginning daily at 6.30 pm.

The festival will open on January 21 with the Assamese play Basavdutta, presented by Purbaranga, a Guwahati-based theatre group. The production is directed by noted theatre personality Gunakar Dev Goswami. The inaugural evening will also feature the felicitation of actor Antaryami Panda with the Ajit Natya Samman, while K.K. will receive the Ajit Yuva Natya Samman.

On the second day, theatre enthusiasts will witness the Odia play Nisidha Kakhya, staged by Rangashala, a Puri-based theatre group, under the direction of Bikram Kumar Sahoo. Renowned theatre personality Pitabas Senapati will be honoured with the Ajit Natya Samman on the same evening.

The festival will conclude on January 23 with AJIT’s own production Samakala, directed by Deepak Ranjan Pati (Aman). During the valedictory ceremony, Premanjan Parida will be conferred with the Ajit Natya Samman, while Pranay Jethi will be honoured with the Ajit Media Samman.

AJIT Secretary Maya Das stated that entry to the festival is free and urged theatre lovers to attend in large numbers to make the event a grand success.