The Samskrita Ranga, a revered institution founded by the illustrious Dr. V. Raghavan, celebrated its 66th anniversary with the successful staging of the play Bhagavadajjukīyam by King Mahendra Vikrama Pallava. Directed by scholar  Nandini Ramani, the event took place at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Main Hall on 10 August 2024, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s commitment to the preservation and promotion of literature and Sanskrit drama.

The event was graced by the esteemed Dr. Sandhya Purecha, Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, and a distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent and scholar, who served as the Chief Guest. Dr. Purecha presided over the event and launched the book Sanskrit Drama and Dramaturgy, authored by Dr. V. Raghavan, further enriching the cultural landscape with this invaluable contribution to the field of Sanskrit theatre. Dr. Sandhya Purecha delivered an insightful speech, appreciating the efforts of Samskrita Ranga in keeping the tradition of Sanskrit drama alive and thriving.

Following the book launch, the play Bhagavadajjukīyam captivated the audience, showcasing the richness of Sanskrit drama. The play Bhagavadajjukīyam humourously explored the concept of soul exchange, where the souls of a monk and a courtesan get exchanged, leading to the monk behaving like a courtesan and vice versa. The soul exchange created a series of comedic situations that left the audience in fits of laughter. The play was crisply directed, with deft use of natyadharmi and abhinaya to elucidate the lines. The music, composed by vidushi Sumithra Vasudev, was particularly noteworthy, with sensitive use of instrumentation and carefully chosen ragas that perfectly depicted a range of emotions from anger, pathos to humour. The actors delivered brilliant performances, excelling in dialogue delivery and subtle expressions and were skillfully directed by Nandini Ramani. The morning concluded on a high note, leaving the audience with a deepened appreciation for classical Sanskrit theatre.

Watch excerpts from the event below..