The seventh edition of the annual “Inter College Drama Competition: CURTAIN CALL 2019” was organized by Rangayan Club, the Dramatics Club of the School of Technology on 17 March 2019 at its Azara campus. Ten colleges from different parts of NE India participated in the event.

The Chief Guest of the event, Padma Shri awardee Smt. Eli Ahmed, a writer, costume designer, scriptwriter, director, lyricist, actress, and a social activist inaugurated the event, by lighting the ceremonial lamp and paying floral tributes to Mahapurush Shrimanta Shankardeva, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Rasaraj Lakshminath Bezbaruah, Dr. Bhupen Hazarika and ADBU’s patron St. John Bosco. It is customary to mention that Smt. Eli Ahmed is also the editor, publisher and proprietor of ‘Orani’, the women’s magazine. It is the only women’s magazine in the Northeast since 1970. She had also organised the first women’s drama group in Assam in 1967. Smt. Ahmed is a life member of the Assam Sahitya Sabha and winner of the national literary prize on adult education for her book “Bonphool” in 1976. She also got the “Dr. Nirmal Prabha Bordoloi Award” in 2011 and the “Amalprava Das Award” in 2013 for her contributions to the field of literature.

Delegates from the ADBU, viz. Pro Vice-Chancellor of ADBU – Father Joseph Nellanatt, Director of School of Technology – Prof. Manoranjan Kalita, Head of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department cum Campus Minister of Azara Campus- Prof. P. Joseph, also graced the occasion with their presence along with the faculty members & students of ADBU and all the participating teams. Renowned Drama activist Dr. Naren Patgiri, Head of History department of Guwahati College, and Assamese theatre activist Mr. Rupjyoti Mahanta, founder of REPLICA Village Theater, were at the Judges panel of the competition.

“I am very delighted to see that all the dramas presented were on different aspects of today’s society portraying all the good and bad colours to make us aware, and received great applause from the audience”, said Pro Vice-Chancellor of ADBU, Fr. Joseph Nallanatt.

Among the participating teams, the team of Cotton University won the coveted Champion trophy for their play titled “Amsangor Sokulu” with a cash prize of Rs. 15,000/-, followed by the team of DIET Sonitpur with the First Runners-up trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 10,000/- for their play titled “Bhoi”; whereas, the team of Guwahati Commerce College bagged the Second Runners-up trophy along with a cash prize of Rs. 8,000/- for their play titled “Ontoheen Opekhya”. The other awards were as follows:

Best Director – Mr. Samrat Bharadwaj, Guwahati Commerce College, for the play “Ontoheen Opekhya”.
Best Script Writer- Mr. Manas Pratim Nath, DIET Sonitpur, for the play “Bhoi”.
Best Actor (Male) – Mr. Sudarsan Nath, DIET Sonitpur, for his character in the play “Bhoi”.
Best Actor (Female) – Ms. Barakha Sarma, Bojali College, for her character in the play “Happy New Year”.

The programme ended with a formal prize distribution ceremony, in which the judges shared their feelings and experiences at the event. One of the judges, Mr. Rupjyoti Mahanta, appreciated the efforts of the participating teams, as according to him, “there is a huge need of art and theatre activists with higher education in today’s theatrical society, which could be fulfilled by these college graduating drama enthusiasts”. He also urged the new generation of drama activists to learn about the art of drama and storytelling with a serious note as dramas could highlight social issues. Further, he informed about the “Drama Villages” that has been set up in different parts of Assam, where any interested person can learn and practice drama seriously. Veteran theatre person Dr. Naren Patgiri, expressing his happiness to see the enthusiasm of the young generation towards drama, mentioned about the minute details that should be kept in mind to stage an appealing and enjoyable play. Both the judges gave valuable tips to the young drama artists for their future drama and theater-related endeavours. The student president of the organizing team of CURTAIN CALL-2019, Ms. Jennifer Sultana adds, “Rangayan club believes that drama and its various forms and genre provide students with a common platform where they can showcase their thoughts, dreams, creativity and emotion”.

Major Sponsors of CURTAIN CALL-2019 were Mr. Harunul Rashid from Glass and Crusher and Engr. Chamed Ali, PWD Karimganj, Co-Sponsored by Mr. Mansoor Ahmed, Mr. Mustak Ahmed, Mr. Rejaul Kareem, Mr. Suman Dhar, Mr. Ahmed Sahil, Mr. Abdul Kuddos and Mr. Samsul Haque. Media Partners of the event were the two satellite television channels – Prag News, Assam and News Time Assam.
As reported by Jesif Ahmed, Sr. Assistant Professor, Assam Don Bosco University