Nabarangpur, Dec, 13: On the first evening of the Nabarangpur District Folk Festival Mandai theatre event, the play “Titili”, written and directed by Jagannath Behera and presented by the Nabarangpur Block, was staged. Cyclones and floods keep entering Odisha uninvited, like an old acquaintance. Floodwaters wash away crops; sand engulfs farmland as embankments break. Many animals, birds, cows, and hundreds of people lose their lives. In the violent onslaught of the storm, some lose their sons, some lose mothers who gave them birth, and others lose their beloved grandchildren.
Madhab, the auto driver, and his family are struck by such a sudden storm. During the flood, the entire family gets separated from one another. His young daughter Titili, with tears in her eyes, disappears into an unknown world.
The play unfolds around this emotional story.
The writer and director of the play is Jagannath Behera. The cast included Devi Prasad Tripathy, Bibhudatta Sethi, Shivashankar Tripathy, Gaurahari Tripathy, Ritesh Pujari, Raghunath Rath, Pavitra Dutta, Bijay Kumar Barik, Shrinivas Patra, Prakashini Choudhury, and child artist Selina Tripathy. Under the musical direction of Mahesh Aliveili, Arun Kumar Swain provided vocals.
District Culture Officer Ghansia Harijan, Deputy Collector Ashutosh Patra, District Social Security Officer Sudhanshu Patra, and Odisha Natak Committee district member Debadas Mahangkuda attended as guests and honored director Jagannath Behera, along with presenting certificates to all participating artists. Art teacher Dillip Kumar Hota coordinated the stage proceedings.
In the evening, the Mandai Theatre Committee brought the sacred garland (Ajna Mala) from the revered Goddess Bhandar Gharani Temple of Nabarangpur and installed it on the stage. In this procession, led by Mandai Theatre Committee President and Additional District Magistrate Tapan Kumar Khuntia, all members participated with traditional musical instruments, mythological costumes, dance, and performances.