Navapalli Natya Sanstha’s Effort in Presenting Lajja: A Remarkable Theatrical Achievement

It is a brave and admirable endeavor by Navapalli Natya Sanstha to stage a full-length play based on Taslima Nasrin’s book Lajja. The novel is hard and provocative, making it a difficult work to adapt for the stage. It explores the pervasive concerns of religious intolerance and communal bloodshed in South Asia. 

The Sanstha’s dedication to tackling socially significant topic is evident in their endeavour to transform Lajja into a theatrical production. Bravo to Navapalli Natya Sangstha’s director, Biswajeet Sinha, and the entire team for putting this daring performance on stage.

The intricacy of Lajja necessitates a delicate and subtle approach in both directing and acting because of its rich ideas and profound emotional terrain. They have assembled a talented group of actors and technicians, and they have all done a great job of bringing the show to life for the audience. The superb performances of Palash Das as Suranjan and Prodeep Ganguly as Sudhamoy boosted the play’s production. The two performers were the most notable aspects of the performance because they each added depth, passion, and nuance to their parts.

Palash Das did an amazing job portraying Suranjan. With a captivating blend of passion and sensitivity, Suranjan—a man caught between his idealism and the brutal reality of community violence—was brought to life. Palash depicted the inner conflict of a man who, despite the horrors the Hindu community endures, fervently adheres to nationality and will not leave his homeland. With a powerful and emotionally charged performance, he transported the audience into Suranjan’s world of frustration and rage. The character’s range of complicated emotions, from defiance to despair, was expertly portrayed by Palash, demonstrating his acting prowess.

Another standout performance in the show was Prodeep Ganguly’s depiction as Sudhamoy, the elderly patriarch of the Dutta family. Prodeep gave the role a sense of gravitas with his commanding presence on stage and his  rich baritone voice. The dignified resilience with which Sudhamoy expressed his everlasting confidence in secularism in the face of rising violence added poignancy to his eventual breakdown. His portrayal of a guy who holds onto hope even as everything around him falls apart was poignant and powerful.