Noida Theatre, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, recently staged the play “Katha Ek Kans Ki” as the culmination of a 45-day intensive workshop under the Parak Rangmanch initiative. The production brought a refreshing experience to Delhi’s theatre audiences. The play, written by the eminent playwright Padmashree Daya Prakash Sinha, was envisioned and directed by young theatre practitioner Praveen Kumar Bharti.

Unlike the conventional mythological portrayal, Katha Ek Kans Ki presents Kans in a new light. Here, Kans is not just the villain of the Puranas, but a timeless symbol of power-hunger and ambition. He emerges as a man consumed by authority, estranged from relationships, and trapped in a life of violence and loneliness. His journey is revealed through complex interactions with characters like his wife Asti, his beloved Swati, his friend Pradhot, and his minister Pralamb.

Praveen Kumar Bharti, essaying the role of Kans himself, held the audience spellbound with his performance. His piercing gaze and powerful delivery brought alive both the terrifying and the tragic shades of Kans. Other performers—R.N. Srivastava, Rahul Varshney, David Solanki, Ganesh Kumar, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Rahul Sharma, Aditya Sharma, Yogendra Narayan Yadav, Anshu Kapoor, Jeevesh Praveen, Mridula Nayak, and Pallavi Shrimant Sahu—delivered memorable performances. Artists such as Suvralina Mohanty, Dharam, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Yogendra, Kisan Kumar Pandit, Jitendra Handa, and Abhay Mishra also captivated the audience. Emotional moments, such as Swati’s tearful expressions or Asti’s poignant portrayal, moved the auditorium deeply. Devaki’s suffering, Pralamb’s shrewdness, and the innocence of young Jeevesh Bharti added striking layers to the narrative.

The visual and aural artistry of the play was heightened by Meeta Mishra’s lighting design and Mukesh Jha’s music, while the costumes and stage design further enriched the dramatic atmosphere.

The performance drew repeated applause, particularly during the scenes of Kans’s inner conflict and ultimate downfall. The final moments left the audience in profound silence, compelling reflection on the destructive nature of tyranny.

Katha Ek Kans Ki concluded with a powerful message: every dictatorship inevitably ends in self-destruction.

This production was not merely a play but the remarkable outcome of the Parak Rangmanch workshop—where youthful energy, creative direction, and collaborative spirit combined to create a theatrical experience destined to linger in memory.

New Delhi, September 5, 2025. The Sammukh Auditorium at the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, witnessed a powerful confluence of literature and theatre with the staging of two acclaimed stories by Senior Poet–Novelist, Director of Vishwarang, and Chancellor of Rabindranath Tagore University, Sh. Santosh Choubey—*Unke Hisse Ka Prem* and Garibnawaz. The plays were directed by veteran theatre director Devendra Raj Ankur and presented by Sambhav Art Group, Delhi, under the aegis of Vanmali Srijan Peeth.

Sh. Santosh Choubey, celebrated for his profound and sensitive contribution to Hindi literature and theatre, has carved a niche through his exploration of human emotions and the complexities of contemporary society. His stories, marked by simplicity of language and depth of expression, continue to inspire both readers and performers.

In Unke Hisse Ka Prem, the fragmented relationships and emotional struggles of an institutional boss are revealed through the unique perspectives of inanimate objects—his desk, pen, chair, diary, and mirror. By transforming these objects into living witnesses, Shri Santosh Choubey’s pen captures the poignancy of solitude and the delicate nuances of human vulnerability.

Garibnawaz, on the other hand, starkly contrasts capitalist success with the resilience of the working class. The clash between Vishwamohan’s opulent BPO office—symbol of globalized affluence—and the modest yet spirited Garibnawaz Chicken Shop next door, becomes a metaphor for the strength of labor and grassroots survival. Here, Sh. Santosh Choubey incisively exposes the paradoxes of urban politics, unauthorized encroachments, and local power nexus.

The stage came alive through remarkable performances by Nidhi Mishra, Gauri Dewal, Rachita Verma, Amitabh Srivastava, Amit Saxena, Prakash Jha, Harikesh Maurya, and Sahaj Harjai. The evocative musical design by Rajesh Singh and Sahaj Harjai, complemented by the lighting design of Raghav Prakash Mishra, intensified the impact of the narratives. The evening was skillfully anchored by Vikrant Bhatt, Associate Director of Tagore Theatre School.

Adding a visual dimension, an exhibition based on the works and books of Shri Santosh Choubey was curated by Prashant Soni, Vikrant Bhatt, Upendra Patne, and Yogesh Kumar. The Sammukh Auditorium was packed with an enthusiastic audience, who responded with admiration for this rare blending of literature and performance.

Without relying on elaborate sets or theatrical gimmicks, the evening reaffirmed that the strength of theatre lies in the richness of writing and the precision of direction. The pen of Sh. Santosh Choubey and the direction of Devendra Raj Ankur together proved that great stories are as alive on stage as they are in the imagination of the reader.

The LTG Auditorium at Mandi House, New Delhi, reverberated this August with the vibrancy of theatre and the thunder of applause. Organized by Natsamrat, the Summer Theatre Festival offered audiences a kaleidoscope of performances that made them laugh, stirred their emotions, and provoked deep reflection. Each play was directed by the acclaimed Delhi-based theatre director Shyam Kumar, whose creative vision and disciplined stagecraft elevated every production into a memorable experience.

The festival commenced on 2nd August with Anton Chekhov’s celebrated one-act play The Proposal. What begins as a simple marriage proposal soon spirals into a heated quarrel over land and dogs, leaving audiences in peals of unexpected laughter. On the same day, the satirical Kallu Nai MBBS was staged—an incisive portrayal of rural ironies through the comic clashes of a drunken barber and his wife. Both plays were so well received that they were restaged on 10th August, once again drawing enthusiastic applause.

On 15th August, marking Independence Day, the same two plays returned to the stage. Amid laughter and wit, audiences were invited not only to reflect upon rural contradictions but also to rediscover the sharp brilliance of Chekhov’s pen.

The evening of 23rd August brought a unique blend of sensitivity and humor. Kuch Tum Kaho Kuch Hum Kahein by Ashish Kotwal presented an intense dialogue between a lonely elderly doctor and the free-spirited Mansi, unraveling layers of relationships, empathy, and self-realization that touched the hearts of spectators. Following this, R.B. Singh’s satirical gem Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi had the audience roaring with laughter, as a hypochondriac patient, obsessed with his own imaginary death, entangled himself in absurd worries about his wife’s future.

The 30th August evening immersed the audience in the layered world of Chekhov and the eternal theme of love. Chekhov Ka Sansar offered glimpses into the Russian master’s life philosophy and stories, while Satya Prakash’s Kambakht Ishq sensitively explored the loneliness of the elderly and their longing for true companionship—making the audience laugh as much as it moved them to tears.

The festival concluded on 31st August with two powerful performances. J.N. Kaushal’s Kya Karega Qazi kept audiences entertained with the hilarious failures and fumbling efforts of the clumsy barber Fakhruddin. This was followed by Bichchu, inspired by Molière’s classic, which humorously portrayed the tug-of-war between lovers and fathers, blending satire with sparkling wit.

Throughout the festival, performers such as Vishwajit, Munmun, Shivangi, Aman Kumar, Raman Kumar, Dhananjay, Ansh Rathore, Rajan K. Bhatheja, and Adyasha Mohanty brought each story alive through their powerful stage presence and spirited dialogue delivery. Balanced use of set design, lighting, and music added to the immersive experience, keeping the audience spellbound.

Equally significant was the contribution of the technical team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Sunil Rathore, Suraj Singh Pawan, Nisha, Raj Rani, Payal Rani, Rohit Prasad, and Poonam managed costumes with precision, while Vansh Rathore created the musical atmosphere that enriched every performance.

More than a series of plays, the Summer Theatre Festival of NatSamrat Sanstha was a celebration of the diversity and power of Indian theatre. With humor, satire, and heartfelt storytelling, the festival not only entertained but also offered profound glimpses into the truths of life. For an entire month, LTG Auditorium pulsated with theatrical energy, leaving audiences with memories that will linger long beyond the final curtain call.