Theatre festival in Kolkata

A nine-day (from August 24 to Sept1) Purba Paschim Theatre Festival 2010 is currently underway in Kolkata. 
The festival, which is a tribute to the 150^th Year of Rabindranath Tagore, is supported by Prabha Khaitan Foundation and is being organised in Association with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Ustaad Ayaan Ali Khan’s (picture) sarod recital was one of the highlights of the Festival’s inaugural function. 
Some of India’s top theatre artists are expected to grace the festival along with other dignitaries and theatre lovers. 
I attended the first day’s function yesterday and met Promita Mallik, Sankha Ghosh, Reba Som and Bratya Basu (picture). 

Mohan Aghase and Rudraprasad Sengupta were felicitated at the function (picture). I honoured them with shawls and a memento marking the 150^th year of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

There is a popular perception that theatre as an art form is gradually losing out. But who would believe this given the tremendous public response to the Festival that I personally witnessed. Almost all the show are already running house full.

Kolkata indeed is the Mecca of art and culture in India.

ess bee