Embassy of India
Muscat
Press Release
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Indian Embassy hosts Original Theatre Festival to celebrate 70 years of Independence

The 8th Edition of the Original Theatre Festival, a series of five plays – three in English and one each in Hindi and Gujarati – will unfold at Indian Embassy auditorium,between November 17 and December 1, from 8 pm onwards.

Indian Embassy in Muscat has been organising a series of cultural, economic and community events as part of celebration of 70 years of India’s Independence, including, dance and music performances, essay and quiz competitions, exhibition of paintings, seminars and workshops with a view to highlight the journey of India as a nation since it independence in 1947.

As part of the ongoing celebrations of 70th anniversary of Indian independence, the 8th Edition of Original Theatre Festival is a collaborative initiative of Indian Embassy and Eventful, a Muscat-based event management company.

The first three plays to be staged in English are: ‘Blame it on Yashraj’, written and directed by Bharat Dabholkar(Nov17);‘Four Play’ (Nov 19); and ‘Two adorable losers’, starring AbhishekPatnaikand Karan Bhanushali and directed by MurtuzaKutianwala (Nov. 22).

The Hindi play ‘Dil to Bachchahaiji’, starring Ali Asgar, MonazMewala, Prasad Barve, RajuLodhia and Arya RawalBarbhaya, directed by DhirajPalshetkar, follows on Nov. 30.

And the grand finale on December 1 will feature renowned Bollywood actress, RohiniHattangadi as ‘Baa’ in Director Vipul Mehta’s super hit Gujarati play, ‘Baa Tane Hu Kya Rakhu’.

India has a long, rich and illustrious history of theatre. In ancient times, Sanskrit dramas were staged at seasonal festivals or to celebrate special events. Further,the infusion of local myths, costumes and masks into the ancient form of drama has resulted in evolution of diverse regional styles of folk theatre. Folk theatre has kept the rural audiences entertained for centuries. It has also played an important part in growth of modern theatres in different languages. As a diverse, multi-cultural nation, the theatre in India has evolved in to a multi-lingual, heterogeneous and vibrant theatre. Plays are regularly staged in English, Hindi and regional languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannad etc.