Overview of Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival 2019 Tezpur
For the first time in Tezpur, “The Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival 2019”, a seven-day festival from 03 January to 09 January 2019 was organized by the socio-cultural organization Jangamin Association with department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam. The festival was a social and cultural event celebrated with drama and cultural performances. The festival had provided a platform in which national and international play artist had exchanged experience. The festival is one of the projects to represent art and culture. The Festival includes 14 Dramas performed by National and International Artists. The festival includes street plays, book fairs, trade fairs, workshops and much more. The festival has brought some of the famous plays. The entire artist made a creative workshop.
The very first day of the festival started at 9 am with the homage to Assam’s Icons giving respect to Veer Lachit Barphukan. The programme followed by the hoisting of Jaatiya Pataka hoisted by Sri Pramod Boro, president, All Bodo Student’s Union at Nehru Maidam. Sri Pramod Boro stated that for progress there should always be sharing, caring, love and respect. People should share cultural relation and should not judge other culture. There should always be respect towards other culture. According to him Assam’s culture should be represented in different culture. After the valuable words of Pramod Boro, Sri Alok Nath, President, Jangam, Tezpur hoisted the Jangam Pataka. The programme was carried on by paying homage to Martyers inaugurated by Sri Makhanbala Devi, Mother of Martyer, Sri Premananda Mahanta, victim of Assam Movement. The programme was further carried on by commemoration to Late Kartik Hazarika by Sri Nilakshi Hazarika, wife of Late Kartik Hazarika. After that veteran theatre person were felicitated by Jangam followed by the projection of “The Days of Assam Movement” through Abdul Munnaf’s Camera inaugurated by Sri Nalini Baruah. The programme also included Book-fair Inauguration at Tezpur Govt. Higher Secondary School to Chitralekha Udyan road inaugurated by Sri Rajen Borthakur, Chairman, Assam State Textbook Production and Publication Corporation Limited. The inaugural ceremony started at 2 pm which included welcoming of dignitaries, welcoming speech by Sri Manoj Kumar Deka, DC, Sonitpur.
The first beautiful evening on 3rd of January the cultural event Kartik Hazarika National Theatre festival 2019 opened with the enactment of Shakespeare’s famous gruesome tragedy “Macbeth” performed by the group “Chorus Repertory Theatre”, Manipur at 6pm in Nehru Maidam. The medium of the play was Manipuri Language. The play was directed by Sri Ratan Thiyam. The second day wonderful evening of the event began with the enactment of the play “Kolaa Aaina…the black mirror” performed by the group “Jangam”, Tezpur at 4:30 pm. The medium of the play was Assamese Language. The director of the play was Sri Alok Nath. The play was followed by another play at 6:30 pm “Don…Taake Bhaalo Laage” performed by the group “Chetna Cub”,Kolkata at Nehru Maidam. The medium of the play was Bengali Language. The play was directed by Sri Sujan Mukhopadhya. The third day amazing evening of the event came to light at 4:30 pm with the enactment of the play “Aeserenga Rod” performed by the group “Sanskritik Mancha”, Axom. The medium of the play was Assamese Language. The play was directed by Sri Pranjal Saikia. At 6:30 pm the second play of the evening “Apne Paraye” was performed by the group “Theaterwala”, New Delhi. The medium of the play was Hindi Language and was directed by Sri Himani Shivpuri & Sri Ramji Bali. The fourth day interesting evening of the event opened up with the enactment of the play “Khamushi Sili Sili” performed by the group “National School of Drama Repetory”, New Delhi at 4:30 pm. The medium of the play was in Hindi Language and the play was directed by Sri Suresh Sharma. The second play of the evening “Panchali” was performed by the group “Spandan”, Bengaluru. The medium of the play was Kanada Language. The play was directed by Dr. B. Jayashree. The fifth day mind blowing evening of the event happened with the play “Son’s of Earth Mother” performed by the group “Badungdupa Kalakendra”, Goalpara. The play was in Rabha language directed by Lt. Sukracharjya Rabha. It was his last Directed Play. The second play of the evening “Chanakya” was performed by the group “Dharamjan”. The play was in Hindi Language and directed by the renowned director and actor “Padma Shri Manoj Joshi”. The sixth day cultural evening started with the play “Kafan-Kafan Chor” performed by the group “Three Art’s Group”, New Delhi. The play was in Hindi Language and directed by “Sri M.K Raina”. The second play of the evening “Kabeer” performed by the group “Shekhar Sen Production” directed by Shri Shekhar Sen. The seventh and the last day artistic evening of the cultural event started at 3:30 pm with the enactment of the play “Mukhamukhi” performed by the group “Surjya”, Guwahati. The medium of the play was in Assamese Language. The play was directed by “Sri Nayan Prasad”. The second play of the last evening “Ismat Aapke Naam” performed by the group “Matli”, Mumbai. The medium of the play was in Urdu Language. The play was directed by renowned actor and director “Sri Naseeruddin Shah”.
The closing ceremony of the seven day long Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival 2019 started with enactment of Bhaona inaugurated by Sri Preetom Saikia followed by the Jaatiya Sangeet. The Ankia Play “Rukmini Haran by Mahapurush Shrimanta Sankardev” was performed by the group “Barhamthuri Sanskritik Kendra”, Dikhowmukh in Brajawali Language. The ceremony concluded with the felicitation of the director of the Ankia Play “Sri Nilomoni Deva Goswami”.
The cultural spirit of the locals and the actors is expressed in the festival through their lively participation and performance. The participants of the festival seemed to be much excited and enjoyed the festival. While interacting with the participants we received lots of positive vibes from them regarding the festival. One of the participants Maidul Islam, who acted in the play “Theatre Village”, described his experience about the Kartik Hazarika National Festival along his experience in the city of Tezpur. He was deeply influenced by the love of the people of Tezpur. According to Mr. Islam, Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival is among one of the biggest festival of North East India. He also mentioned that renowned artist Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Phani Sharma, renowned actor and director from Tezpur are his inspiration. During interaction Mr. Islam also mentioned about the iconic theatre Baan Stage, a platform for the development of socio-cultural field. He further added that he is thankful to Jangamfor providing him the opportunity to participate in such a big festival of North East India.
Another participant of the workshop Mr. Bhaskar Deka from Dhekiajuli Town, an actor by passion and a reporter of DY365 by profession expressed his positive views about the festival and the workshop. According to Mr. Deka this festival has proved that drama is still alive in people’s heart and people are still interested in watching a good drama. According to him drama creates a family. Mr. Deka added that government should take good steps and initiatives to help the socio-cultural festivals so that the young generations could carry along with them our cultural traditions. He further added that government help and initiative to the festival would be more beneficiary.
Participants in the play and workshop with the help of Jangamare pleased to see how popular drama is among Tezpur Folks and people’s interest in drama. According to them this type of workshop should be organized after every 2-3 years, which would keep people’s interest in drama.
“Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival 2019” was not only a workshop or festival of drama but also a place of learning, experiencing dramatic arts at international level which had involved audiences and professional artists from all over the world. This festival has reflected life’s happiness, sorrows and challenges and will be one of our historical documents and more participants and actors are expected as the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam had taken a step to organize the socio-cultural event annually on Tezpur.
For more details do visit official website of Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival www.jangamtezpur.in
Content By : Neelakshi Baruah
Some of the moments at Kartik Hazarika National Theatre Festival