LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Aug 25: The Central University of Jharkhand on Thursday staged the Sanskrit drama Urubhangam, which was composed by students of the Department of Performing Arts at Central University of Jharkhand, Cheri Manatu, Ranchi. Vice Chancellor Prof. Kshiti Bhushan Das was present on the occasion as Chief Guest.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the acting ability of the students and Dr. Venkat Naresh Burla, the director of the play. He said that such programmes should continue and new stories should be showcased.
Urubhangam is one of the popular thirteen plays of Bhasa. The students of the performing arts department played the characters in this drama based on the Mahabharata. The play has been directed by Dr. Venkat Naresh Burla, Head of the Department.
Notably, Urubhangam (The Breaking of the Thighs) is a Sanskrit play written by Bhasa in the 2nd or 3rd century CE. Based on the well-known epic, the Mahabharata, by Vyasa, the play focuses on the story of the character Duryodhana during and after his fight with Bhima. Although the play contains the same core storyline as that in the epic, Bhasa’s altering of certain aspects results in a different presentation of the story.
The most extreme of these alterations is Bhasa’s portrayal of Duryodhana, who, in the Mahabharata, is viewed as a villain, but in Urubhangam is given more human qualities. Bhasa’s presentation of Duryodhana’s side of the tale adds certain tragic elements to the play.
There are two productions of this play performed from August 22 to August 26. One of the presentation is being held from 11:00 am and the other from 3 pm.
