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`Prahlad Natak' gets a makeover

Staff Reporter

50 veteran gurus of this folk theatre to train new artistes

BERHAMPUR : Efforts are on to restructure the `Prahlad Natak' an ancient folk theatre of south Orissa.

A syllabus to train new and existing performers of `Prahlad Natak' to make it adapt to the changing taste of spectators keeping its authenticity intact has been prepared. Over 50 veteran gurus of this folk theatre as per the new syllabus would train 70 `Prahlad Natak' troupes and a group of new artistes.

Centre's support

This project has been taken up with the help of Central Government. As this folk theatre had till date survived through generations of gurus living in different areas it did not have a rigid form. Added to it its language, songs based on various classical ragas and special enactments called `Danda' make this folk art form difficult to learn for new entrants.

Through workshops where playwrights, stage directors met with the `Prahlad Natak' gurus the choreography, Sanskrit slokas, songs and rhythms used in this theatrical form were discussed to form the syllabus. Playwright and stage director, Bipin Bihari Samant played a major role in enthusing the gurus to bring in small changes to meet the needs of the modern audience.

Story of Prahlad of `Bhagavatam' is enacted through `Prahlad Natak' that is also called `Raja Nata'. The 12 types of torture that Prahlad had to face at the hands of his father, demon king Hiranyakashipu are the 12 `Dandas' in this traditional folk theatre.

Climax

The climax of the play involves the killing of Hiranyakashipu by Narasimha.

According to Biswabihari Khadanga, a resource person of this revival project for `Prahlad Natak', few decades back there were 172 troupes performing this folk art form in Ganjam district, where it had originated. With dwindling audience 62 of them have vanished. Along with it the authenticity of this folk art form was also getting degraded. So, it was high time to codify the performance of `Prahlad Natak' to make it fit to meet the changed times.

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