HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, June 30: The prestigious Baan Theatre Award 2024 will be bestowed upon eminent playwright, director, and lyricist Hemanta Dutta during the upcoming Natasurya Phani Sarma Memorial Drama Festival scheduled from July 31 for a five-day duration. This announcement was made by Jitumani Deva Choudhury, general secretary of Baan Theatre, during a special function held on Saturday evening.
As part of the festival’s events, the opening ceremony featured the unveiling of three plays to be staged, including ‘Purani Bakulor Subas’ scripted by Mrinal Kumar Bora, ‘Kanai’ scripted by Aditya Ankur Nath, Priyakshi Madhukalya, and Jagriti Kaundinya, and a play authored by Hemanta Dutta to be presented by Majgaon Srimanta Sankardev Mandir Anusthan.
The ceremonial inauguration included the breaking of a coconut by Bankim Sarma, president of Baan Theatre, and the lighting of a ceremonial lantern by noted playwright Karuna Saikia. The welcome address was delivered by the general secretary of Baan Theatre, with the entire program conducted by executive member Pankaj Barua. Vice presidents Bhabananda Das and Dilip Bora, along with other dignitaries of the organisation, participated in the rituals, while Arun Sarma, Lakhi Saikia, and Karuna Saikia shared their perspectives during the event.
It is noteworthy that the dramas scheduled for the festival will be directed by Manoranjan Mahanta, Taz Hussain, and Lakhi Saikia. Additionally, Gautom Pathak and Moon Deka were introduced as resource persons for the Children’s Drama Workshop preceding the festival.