Mail News Service
Jamshedpur, May 24: The young theatre group Geeta Theatre from Jamshedpur made a powerful impression at the All India Carnival Theatre Festival 2025 held in Kolkata, organized by Lakshmikant Film & Music Pvt. Ltd. The troupe performed their acclaimed play Kasak at the Bani Niketan Hall, Ramrajatala Bazar, Santragachi, Howrah.
The play Kasak received two special awards at the festival. Child artist Srishti Sah won the Best Female Child Actor award for her portrayal of Phulwa and the play also earned the Best Playwright award.
Kasak narrates the emotional and economic struggles of an impoverished rural family—Budhwa, his wife Sugni and their two children Phulwa and Sohan—trapped in a cycle of debt. Despite Sugni’s repeated pleas, Budhwa continues to take loans to meet basic family needs. One day, in Budhwa’s absence, the landlord arrives at Sugni’s house. Citing Budhwa’s unpaid debt and public humiliation, the landlord offers to forgive the loan in exchange for a physical relationship. To save her family from ruin, Sugni agrees, but the decision haunts her. Tormented by guilt and self-hatred, she ultimately consumes poison and ends her life.
The play was directed by young dramatist Prem Dixit, who also played the villainous landlord. Geeta Kumari portrayed Sugni, Suraj Dhibar played Budhwa, Srishti Sah and Devaraj Kumar played the children and Anant Sardar appeared as the landlord’s assistant. A new character, Radha Mausi, was introduced and played by Manisha Dey of Adityapur.
Stage design was by Tushar Dasgupta, makeup by Soumya Kumari, lighting by Raju Dey and background music by Lakhi Kalindi. (w/nkm)
