Shimla’s Him Youth Drama Festival: Unveiling Raw Talent Amidst Theatrical Contrasts

Shimla, Dec 28 Ritanjali Hastir

The Department of Language and Culture, in collaboration with the District Administration Shimla and Gaiety Dramatic Society Shimla, is organizing the Him Youth Drama Festival at the Gaiety Theater. Various college students are presenting their theatrical productions as part of this festival. Today, students from Rajkiya Degree College Sanjauli performed a play titled “And Then There Were None,” while students from Rajkiya Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya Fagli staged a play named “Mrichhakatikam.”

The first play, “And Then There Were None,” a gripping whodunit by Agatha Christie, showed ten strangers with dark secrets invited to an isolated island. As the guests start dying one by one, the survivors must uncover the killer’s identity before it’s too late. The play was creatively adapted, and each actor placed his best foot forward. However, the adaptation lacked a conclusion, as one could not find the connection between all the people involved unless one was familiar with the original novel.

The other play, “Mrichhakatikam” is a fine love story of a worthy Brahmana Charudatta and a courtesan Vasantasena who falls in love with Charudatta, a young Brahmin who loses all his wealth due to his philanthropic and altruistic nature. Each actor played true to his character, and especially Maitreya won the hearts of the audience with his acting and made one wait for more. Sakara’s performance, too, is worth mentioning.

The youth festival showcased performances by young artists, whose vibrant and compelling acts surpassed some of the grandiose yet lackluster productions funded by the Government Dramatic Society (GDS). Unlike the self-proclaimed professional productions that often strain the government exchequer, these students came not to bask in the glory of self-claimed achievements but to deliver powerful and engaging performances.

The talent displayed at the youth festival serves as a testament to the untapped potential that lies within educational institutions. It prompts us to question the current paradigm and advocate for the promotion of such festivals. Moreover, introducing theater as a practical subject at the school or college level could act as a catalyst, breathing life into the very essence of theater.

In stark contrast, some so-called professional artists performing in productions under the Gaiety Dramatic Society, with substantial budgets, lack accountability. The absence of a critical panel to scrutinize these productions after their completion of four shows raises questions about the transparency and quality control mechanisms in place. The youth festival not only celebrated the raw and genuine talent of budding artists but also shed light on the need for a more inclusive and critical approach to theater in the city.