Oxford Educate by OUP on YouTube

Played a small part in the Oxford Educate Video (by OUP) to make learning fun and interesting, both for students and teachers. I essayed the role of the teacher you see right at the beginning of the video. :)

Theatre Fest - Bharat Rang Mahotsav

Jan 18 - Saw the play Macbeth in Bengali. Performed by the theatre group, Swapna Sandhani, the play was directed by Kaushik Sen and Macbeth was played by him too. It was a two and a half hour play and I was hooked. The translation has been excellent as was the acting and the stage design. Choreography of the witches (weird creatures) was expertly done. Lady Macbeth played by Rashmi Sen was also well presented. If Bengal theatre keeps up this good work, a renaissance of sorts is not far in West Bengal.

Theatre Fest - Bharat Rang Mahotsav

Jan 9 - Got to see the play Meghnad Badh Kabya. And I was impressed to say the least. Director Manish Mitra had taken on a huge task and has delivered. The play is in Bengali and Sanskrit, so for people who do not understand Bengali it can be a little daunting. But the actors and the choreography got the audience involved. Meghnad, Ravan's son who is killed in battle, performed like the valiant warrior he was. The use of various dance forms ( Kathakali, Chow and Kathak) added to the grandeur. The sense of empathy with Ravan, Mandodari and Urmila's pain and Meghnad's need to defend Lanka was palpable among the audience. I have always wanted to peek into Michael Madhusudhan Dutt's great work, but felt intimidated. Seeing it enacted made me realise what I had missed.
Just as a rejoinder, I would have been happier if the last scene had left out the ritual of sati.