DOOMDOOMA, Feb 19 - Utsa, Asom, an amateur theatre group of Na-Maithang in Tinsukia district received appreciation in the International Theater Festival of India in New Delhi and the Bharat Rang Mahotsav in Ahmedabad, which were organised under the auspices of the National School of Drama (NSD) from February 2.
More than 100 troupes from the country and abroad participated in the theatre festivals. Utsa, Asom staged an Assamese play named Dhulia Oja written by eminent playwright and theatre activist Rajib Lochan Borah of Phillobari. The play was directed by Guna Moni Borah, an NSD graduate from Na-Maithang. The play was staged at LTG auditorium, New Delhi on February 6 and in Ahmedabad on February 9.
The story of the play revolves round the life of a dhulia oja, Konpai who has his breath and heartbeat stuck in the beatings of his dhol, his best friend. He talks his heart out to it. Nobody but his dhol understands why he has been so indifferent to studies or to work in the field.
While reciting a poem from the textbook or while ploughing, he finds new musical compositions for the dhol. He performs these compositions in marriage ceremonies, meetings and functions. Konpai�s fame grows as a dhulia oja, the maestro of dhol. Citations and gamochas, tokens of honour, come alongside. But money doesn�t.
Konpai�s father dies of a disease which could have been cured if they had the money for treatment. His mother too stays unwell and his own needs do not get fulfilled. All these are a burden on Konpai�s shoulders. He throws the dhol away swearing never to put his hands on it again. What happens to Konpai�s life? Who made the oja abandon his dhol, his life force ? Will Konpai play the dhol again to create magic? Dhulia Oja, the play explores these questions. The playwright also tries to take dhol, the folk instrument of Assam to the national as well as international arena.
The artistes of the 70-minute play were Bipanjit Gogoi, Gautam Saikia, Mantu Gogoi, Punyajit Moran, Diganta Konwar, Rituparna Dutta, Biswanath Gogoi, Seuj Jyoti Bhuyan, Banti Sonowal, Susmita Kalindi, Murchana Phukan, Pompi Burhagohain and Shibani Rajkhowa. The mentor of dhol was Ranjit Gogoi, while Luku Saikia looked after lighting. The stage management was by Bipul Phukan.
In both the places the play received immense praise from the audience and critics alike. In Ahmedabad, the audience had an interaction for two hours with the playwright, director and artistes after the performance.
Utsa, Asom was established in 1997 and since its inception the focus of the group has been to take theatre to the remote areas of Assam. With active participation of the community, it has been able to research, study and apply the traditional folk forms of the State. In its two-decade-long journey, Utsa, Asom has also bagged many a laurel.