Patiala, April 11
The North Zone Cultural Centre, Patiala, in collaboration with the Rangmandal Pancham Ved Creation and Charitable Trust, Dehradun—and under the aegis of NZCC Director M. Furkan Khan—presented an impactful staging of the play “Kalinga Vijay” at the Kalidas Auditorium, Virsa Vihar Centre, Patiala. Written by the renowned playwright Mohan Rakesh and directed with great command by Anurag Verma, the production left a lasting impression on the audience.
Through its poignant and realistic presentation, the play deeply stirred the emotions of the spectators. “Kalinga Vijay” brings to life a harrowing chapter of history, vividly depicting how the lives of common people are devastated by the horrors of war and violence. The anguish of the families and relatives of those killed in battle was portrayed on stage with immense sensitivity, moving the audience present in the auditorium to tears.
A standout feature of the play was its highly effective depiction of Emperor Ashoka’s transformation of heart—a moment where, witnessing the devastation wrought by war, he resolves to embrace the path of non-violence. This production conveys a profound message regarding peace and human values.
Furthermore, by incorporating excerpts from Bhagat Singh’s essay ‘Yuvak’ (Youth) and passages imbued with heroic fervor from Ramdhari Singh ‘Dinkar’s’ immortal epic ‘Rashmirathi’, the play conveyed an additional message: while violence for the sake of imperial expansion is unjustifiable, taking necessary measures for national security and self-defense may be considered a moral duty.
In terms of performance, the entire cast—including Anurag Verma, Shrish Dobhal, Manvi Nautiyal, Ashish Verma, Kunal, Raj, Ankita, Anshika, Priyanka, Vishal Pant, Nitish, Lokesh Sharma, Naresh Thakur, Mukesh Nainwal, and Chandrabhash Singh—breathed life into their respective characters through their powerful and compelling acting. The background music provided by Priyanka and the lighting design executed by Pushkar also played a pivotal role in making the performance impactful.
Overall, “Kalinga Vijay” proved to be a production that not only connected the audience with history but also compelled them to reflect deeply upon humanity, peace, and duty.
Photo Caption: Various scenes from the play “Kalinga Vijay,” presented at the Kalidas Auditorium (Virsa Vihar Kendra, Patiala) as part of the monthly theatre series.
