Prem Utsav 2010 to stage 15 plays

RANCHI: Prem Utsav-2010, the four-day drama festival of Ranchi University, will be inaugurated here on Tuesday. As many as 15 plays based on the stories of legendary writer Munshi Premchand will be staged by artists from Mumbai.
According to the vice-chancellor of Ranchi University, Prof A A Khan, the drama festival is part of the golden jubilee celebration of the institution.The plays will be presented by Mumbai-based Idea group.
"Keeping in mind the relevance of writings of Premchand, we have decided to stage drama based on his stories so that students and art lovers of Jharkhand can take lesson and adopt it," said Khan.
The festival will be inaugurated by state human resource secretary Mridual Sinha. Jharkhand High Court justice Ambreshwar Sahay will be there as the first audience.
Mujib Khan, president, Idea, said that the 15 plays to be staged during the festival include Mandir-Masjid', Katil', Sampadak Moteram Shastri', Panchayat', Miss Padma', Shikwa-Shikayat', Sava Ser Gahun', Kafan', Sachai Ka Upahar' and Dawat'.
"We have meticulously selected these 15 stories of Premchand for the festival from the total collection of 283 stories keeping in mind of the scenario in Jharkhand. All the plays will minutely depict crisis from which Jharkhand is passing through and also the ray of hope that we have in our life," said Khan.
The drama Miss Padma will talk about relationships and perils in the society due to declining moral and ethical values.
A special session for students of the university will also be organised on Thursday where they will get an opportunity to interact with the artists.