The eagerly anticipated SmaranniK Theatre Festival 2024 is set to captivate the audiences in Bengaluru on July 20. This one-day event will showcase four compelling Bengali plays, all set to be staged in two sessions, referred to as Show 1 and Show 2, with intermissions in between. Sayandeb Bhattacharya, the festival director and the founder of the theatre group, announced the details, noting, “The plays will be presented as Show 1 and Show 2 with breaks in between.”
Established in 2012, SmaranniK is a Bengali theatre group that has consistently worked to deliver memorable performances. Bhattacharya explained the meaning behind the name, saying, “SmaranniK means something worth remembering.” The dedicated group initiated the SmaranniK Theatre Festival in 2013, and this year’s edition marks the 11th anniversary of the festival. Bhattacharya emphasized that the festival and theatre group are a collective effort, spotlighting the inherently collaborative nature of theatre.
Throughout the past decade, SmaranniK has made significant contributions to the theatre scene. The group has produced six plays, organized ten theatre festivals, hosted ten theatre workshops, and led four theatre lectures. Despite starting with eleven core members, only six are currently active due to some members relocating from Bengaluru. Bhattacharya mentioned, “The festival is organized every year to present some of the best Bengali plays in Bengaluru.”
The SmaranniK Theatre Festival also serves as a celebration of the group’s anniversary, which falls at the end of June. Bhattacharya revealed that organizing the festival on the precise anniversary date is not always feasible, hence their decision to celebrate between July and August. He stressed the universal appeal of theatre, saying, “The focus is to promote the perspective that theatre has no language barrier. We watch plays in every language, and I believe theatre is a universal language.”
Another objective of the festival is to present plays directed by seasoned theatre directors and actors. Bhattacharya shared, “With SmaranniK, they can watch Bengali plays in Bengaluru.”
Beyond the theatrical performances, the festival aims to serve as a cultural platform.
. Bhattacharya detailed that the event would feature a variety of food stalls, book stalls, and musical performances. “There will be Bengali books and cuisine as well as cuisines, books, and music from other regions,” he noted, promising a rich cultural experience for the attendees.
Bhattacharya’s journey into theatre began at the tender age of five in Kolkata, having worked with stalwarts like Bibhas Chakraborty and his father, Meghnad Bhattacharya. After moving to Bengaluru in 2005, Bhattacharya temporarily stepped away from theatre to focus on his studies, returning to his passion in 2007. Currently residing in Mahadevpura, the 42-year-old theatre practitioner continues to make significant contributions to the field.
The festival will kick off with Show 1, featuring the play “Sayam-Er-Aalo,” SmaranniK’s new production, directed by Bhattacharya himself, at 3pm. This will be followed by “Andhakarer Utso Hote,” written and directed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Bibhas Chakraborty. This play features prominent theatre figures such as Meghnad Bhattacharya and Sima Mukherjee and delves into the thematic light of hope emerging from darkness within a middle-class Bengali family.
Show 2, commencing at 5:30pm, will feature “Bandher Dosh Din,” starring the veteran film and theatre actor, Rajatava Dutta. This play revolves around the life of Subhabrata, a man whose life undergoes drastic changes when he, along with his wife and daughter, relocates to a small, two-room flat in Behala. The narrative focuses on how they navigate unforeseen circumstances and the lessons they derive from these experiences.
Concluding Show 2 is “Tomar Ami,” performed by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-winning actor, Debsankar Halder. This play is a Bengali adaptation of Evald Flaser’s “Take Me In Your Hands” and explores an unusual love story set in Kolkata’s College Street. It portrays a romantic narrative between Ajit, an older, well-educated bookshop owner, and Maya, a younger salesgirl living in a slum but eager for knowledge.
The SmaranniK Theatre Festival 2024 promises to be a rich tapestry of cultural and theatrical experiences. Set to be held at the MLR Convention Centre in JP Nagar (near Brigade Millenium) from 3pm, tickets for the festival are available on BookMyShow or by calling 9741408132. This event is not just a theatrical showcase but a celebration of culture and the indomitable spirit of collective creativity.
