Pune: A three-day national conference, 'Rang Roopak,' organized under the joint aegis of the Cultural Affairs Department, Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, the Theatre Department of MIT-ADT University, and the South-Central Cultural Centre, Nagpur, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, witnessed deep discussions on Indian theatrical traditions. This conference proved to be a grand celebration for theatre enthusiasts.
With the theme "The Role of Theatre Studies in Indian Knowledge Traditions," the conference aimed to promote Indian theatre culture. Renowned theatre directors and artists at the national level guided students and participants over the three days. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Padma Shri Prof. Vaman Kendre, former director of the National School of Drama, New Delhi; Padma Shri Prof. Bharat Gupt, Executive Chairman of the National School of Drama, New Delhi; MIT-ADT University’s Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rajesh S.; Registrar Dr. Mahesh Chopade; Abhijit Gokhale of Sanskar Bharati; Dean of the Cinema & Theatre Department, Dr. Mukesh Sharma; and event organizer Dr. Amol Deshmukh.
The opening ceremony began with a traditional flag worship and Sambhal percussion, followed by a Nataraja puja. The guests were welcomed with traditional attire and an image of Sant Dnyaneshwar. In his introductory speech, Conference Coordinator and Head of the Theatre Department, Dr. Amol Deshmukh, emphasized the Indian essence in theatre studies. Prof. Vaman Kendre, in his keynote speech, highlighted Bharat Muni’s Natya Shastra as a significant heritage of Indian culture and its continued relevance. He stressed that theatre training at the National School of Drama, New Delhi, considers Natya Shastra an essential part of the curriculum.
Padma Shri Prof. Bharat Gupt, in his inaugural address, traced the history and contemporary significance of Natya Shastra. He also announced the establishment of a special training center by the National School of Drama in Varanasi, dedicated to theatre studies. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajesh S., Registrar Dr. Chopade, Dean Dr. Mukesh Sharma, and Abhijit Gokhale extended their best wishes for the conference. The event was hosted by actress Kalyani Kumari, and Prashant Kulkarni delivered the vote of thanks.
Following the inauguration, a mesmerizing performance of 'Mohe Piya,' a Hindi adaptation of 'Madhyam Vyayog,' directed by Padma Shri Vaman Kendre, was staged at the Urmila Tai Karad Auditorium, receiving overwhelming applause from the audience.
Second Day: A Special Experience for Theatre Enthusiasts
The second day of the conference featured a session on 'Acting Aspects in Natya Shastra,' led by renowned classical dancer Padma Shri Shashadhar Acharya, Prof. Sugyan Kumar Mohanty, and Dr. Gautam Chatterjee. They explored the various dimensions of acting in Indian theatre. In the afternoon session, Guru Shama Bhate, Dr. Prasad Bhide, and Prof. Sandhya Rayate provided insightful guidance on 'Natya Shastra - Experimental Aspects.' This was followed by a captivating Bharatanatyam dance-drama, 'Ram-Lalla,' conceptualized by Guru Shama Bhate, which left the audience spellbound.
Grand Finale on the Third Day
On the final day, senior theatre experts Dr. Sangeeta Gundecha and Piyal Bhattacharya conducted a session on 'The Aesthetic Aspects of Natya Shastra.' The concluding session featured the presence of Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi; Padma Shri Bharat Gupt; and Abhijit Gokhale. Inspectors Dr. Jayant Shevatekar and Dr. Samyukta Thorat shared their insights.
Subsequently, the Urmila Tai Karad Auditorium hosted performances of 'Natya Utpatti,' directed by Dr. Sangeeta Gundecha, and 'Devshuni,' directed by Dr. Prasad Bhide, both of which received resounding applause from the audience.
The successful execution of this conference was made possible through the guidance of MIT-ADT University’s Executive President Prof. Dr. Mangesh Karad, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Rajesh S., Registrar Dr. Mahesh Chopade, Director of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra, Vibhishan Chavare, Director of the South-Central Cultural Centre, Nagpur, Aastha Godbole Karlekar, and Abhijit Gokhale, National Organizational Secretary of Sanskar Bharati.
The conference saw active participation from theatre faculty members, researchers, and students from universities across India, including Dr. Jayant Shevatekar, Dr. Samyukta Thorat, Dr. Anuradha Patki, Dr. Yogita Mahajan, Dr. Sampada Kulkarni, Prof. Renuka Bodhankar, Anant Panshikar, Praveen Kulkarni, Kavita Vibhavari, Vishal Taral, and Uday Shevde.
The success of this event was driven by the dedicated efforts of Theatre Department Head Dr. Amol Deshmukh, Coordinators Prof. Sunita Nagpal, Prof. Nikhil Shete, Prof. Anirban Banik, and Prof. Kiran Pawaskar.
Special Highlights: The third day featured the spellbinding performances of 'Natya Utpatti' and 'Devshuni,' which left an indelible mark on the audience and made this conference an unforgettable experience.
