NSD Alumni Attend Advitiya’18 closing ceremony

NewsPatrolling.com  : Drawing a curtain on the 43-day-long celebration of ‘Advitiya’, a platform for young theatrical talents as a part of the ongoing 8th Theatre Olympics, the National School of Drama (NSD) today hosted a grand closing ceremony. Renowned actor, lyricist, singer and NSD alumnus Shri Swanand Kirkire was the chief guest and acclaimed actor and NSD alumni Shri Pankaj Tripathi, Shri Adil Hussain, actor Ms. Rasika Dugal, and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri M L Srivastava were the guests of honour at the ceremony. Besides, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Ms. Sujata Prasad felicitated the guests in the presence of thousands of young talented artists from across the country. Director, National School of Drama, Prof. Waman Kendre also attended the ceremony.

The names of three winners of the short play writing for youth up to the age of 35 were announced during the event. The first prize of Rs. 1 Lakh went to Ms. Vidya V. Rao of Bangalore for her English play ‘Mughal Saga Through Their Eyes’ while Mr. Nitish Dubey from Bhopal won the second prize of Rs. 50,000 for his Hindi play ‘Chandralok’. The third prize of Rs. 25,000 went to Ms. Ipsita Kundu, a first year student of the National School of Drama, Kolkata for her Bengali

play ‘An Ordinary Love Story’. A three-member jury comprising Shri Asghar Wajahat, Prof. Tripurari Sharma, and Shri Manohar Khushalani judged the winners of short play writing.

A prize of Rs. 25,000 for ‘Be A Reporter’ went to Mr. Satyam from Patna judged by a two-member panel comprising Prof. Amitesh Grover and journalist Mr. Amitesh Kumar. The 52 colleges of Delhi University who presented street plays during the 8th Theatre Olympics were awarded a certificate and an appreciation amount of Rs. 5,000 during the event.

Around 2000 young theatre workers from all over India converged at the premises of the National School of Drama today for the grand closing ceremony of ‘Advitiya’, organised by the students union of NSD. ‘Advitiya’ is a youth forum in the 8th Theatre Olympics under which the dramatic societies of colleges presented street plays on a wide array of topics and theatre-loving youth participated in short play writing and ‘Be A Reporter’. In addition to over 50 colleges in Delhi, the segment witnessed around 150 performances all over India.

“Theatre is a glorious platform which connects the youth with art. Theatre should thrive in every city. I started my career with Waman Kendre Ji’s production. It feels an honour to be here today,” says Shri Swanand Kirkire during the closing ceremony.

“The contribution of audience, all the young artists, legendary theatre performers and eminent critics to this Theatre Olympics is ‘Advitiya’,” says Director, National School of Drama, Prof. Waman Kendre.

“I have been to different cities as part of 8th Theatre Olympics and have seen the enthusiasm of youth towards this mega festival. I would like to congratulate the organising committee for its success,” says Joint Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shri M L Srivastava.

“I feel overwhelmed to be here at NSD campus. It is where I started, it is this place which has given me everything. I always thought what is the need of an artist in this society? While working as an actor I realised, art is like nutrition to society. It saves society from dying,” says acclaimed actor Shri Pankaj Tripathi.

“I do not like the word tolerance. Today we say we are a tolerant society, which literally means that we are somehow surviving with each other. I believe we should not be tolerant rather we should we harmonious. Art is the adhesive towards a harmonious society,” says Shri Adil Hussain.

“It is an absolute honour to be here at NSD. When I was in college, I always aspired to be a student at NSD but thought that as this is a place for the best of talent, never had the guts to apply. And today being here feels so nice,” says actor Ms. Rasika Dugal.

A colourful and musical parade marched from Mandi House metro station to the NSD campus. Presenting the folk music and dance, Dandiya performers from Gujarat and folk artists from Haryana and Odisha displayed their lavish cultural heritage. The first, second and third year students of NSD performed folk and classical dance as well as theatre band of self-written-and-composed songs.