19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pani's ‘Karna Arjuna' gets a stage in Canada
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Bhubaneswar: 'Karna Arjuna', an Odia opera by renowned 19th century dramatist Baisnab Pani was the show-stealer at 'Bishuba milana' organised by Canada-Odisha Society of Americas (CanOSA) at Etobicoke, Toronto.
The one-hour show was staged at the Dante Alighieri Academy Theatre by around 11 artistes and seven others playing their roles behind the scenes.
"It is heartening to learn that Pani's mythological work was staged in Canada. It's a sign of Odia Asmita," said Dhira Mallick, a noted theatre personality. Mallick said Pani, who was born in Mahanga, Cuttack, used to move from village to village to perform 'geetinatya' (a musical presentation where dialogues are followed by songs).
Almost all performers, being IT professionals or scientists, devoted their weekends for over four months to rehearse, get costumes and props like weapons ready, decide the stage décor with cut-outs of chariots and horses, checking the sound systems, make-up, among others.
"We decided to stage the geetinatya as many people were keen to watch mythological plays. We had staged it 17 years ago," said Gagan Behari Panigrahi, a molecular biologist and producer.
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Living abroad, the opera tested the resourcefulness and ingenuity of Odias, particularly when it came to costumes as they had to make everything. While saris of different colours were used as 'dhotis', coloured T-shirts were modified and embellished.
"The crowns that were brought from India long back were modified. Besides, we made beards and moustaches as I had the knowledge from my high school drama experience," said Panigrahi.
The work was very time-consuming and creative, but teamwork helped them tide through. "One of our teammates, Nibedita Pattnaik, arranged all the saris," said Panigrahi, who added a few scenes on audience demand. Nearly 500 people from Toronto, Ottawa and New York attended the programme.
