‘Bayasara Ante’, A Story Of Life, Love and Hope,   Of Two Oldies

‘Bayasara Ante’, A Story Of Life, Love and Hope,   Of Two Oldies

The past has no memories to cherish, the future is futile, and the present is all to live in. To retain that same essence of love for years to come and go is just like squeezing a dry cloth for even a droplet of water. ‘Odia One Theatre Group’ presented the life of Prof. Nityananda Mishra and his wife Pratima Mishra, with the play ‘Baysara Ante’. It was staged in Rabindra mandap on 23rd & 24th march.

An initiative by Ollywood diva Anu Choudhury, versatile actor Samaresh routray and newcomer director Bishan Balabhadra Satpathy, this play has undoubtedly reached audiences’ hearts.

After watching the play, popular director of the O-town, Susant Mani, wrote something special on his social media handle. He wrote, “Bayasara Ante proves that to become a hero or a heroine, age doesn’t matter. Although it’s a different ball game for Anu, I think she can adapt to any format of acting with her dedication & hard work, be it the silver screen or the stage. The minute details in the acting put up by Samaresh showed that the acting knife only grows sharper with age and experience. Both of them spellbound the full house audience for 90 mins,made them laugh, cry and connect the story to their own lives.

“The only time I blinked was during the blackouts for the change of scenes. You will be surprised to know that while the audience was crying, I was smiling because I was happy to know that we also have a sophisticated intellectual mass in Odisha who understands and loves to watch this kind of content. For me ‘Bayasara Ante’ is nothing but a wonderful piece of art by a very young talent B.B Satpathy, that lingers with you for a long time,” added the director.

The old couple was seen reminiscing about the good old days, when they were young and carefree. As they talk, we get to know more about their love story and how they met. Flashbacks are interspersed throughout the play, showing scenes from their love life and early years of marriage. We see how Nityananda (played by Samaresh) would go out of his way to make Pratima (played by Anu) smile, and how Pratima would always support Nityananda in his endeavors, even when things got tough.

The gentle star of the O-town, Akash Dasnayak, has also watched the play. He wrote, “The heartwarming story of the play and the performances of the actors were very captivating. One of the best plays I have ever seen in my lifetime.” The actor also requested the public to go and watch it.

One of the most poignant scenes in the play is when Pratima is diagnosed with a serious illness and has very little time to live. Nityananda is devastated, but he vows to stay by her side and take care of her no matter what. This reflects on their long life together and how much they still love each other and their love has truly stood the test of time.

Amazed after watching the play, popular poet and writer Manash Padhiary said, “I always feel stage play is more difficult than cinema. It has no retakes, no prompting, and no chance to correct the mistakes. The amazing performance by Samresh Routray and Anu Chaudhury and the director Bishan’s ability to hold the audience in the whole play was visible. The best part was the applause of the entire Rabindra Mandap was full of audience, who bought the tickets, which is a good sign for the stage play scenario.”

Rupali Rupamita, a media professional, found the play to be very relatable. She said to My City Links, “I literally saw my father and mother on stage within Anu and Samaresh. My brother stays abroad and after marriage I have also shifted to my in-laws’. I can relate it to my parents very much. Although we are connected digitally these days, the emotional feel when you meet your loved ones in person is definitely unmatchable. It’s a harsh reality of the society that sometimes knowingly or unknowingly children abandon their parents at home. That’s the time when the old couple in the house become lonely and they need to support each other during the last period of their life. This play has beautifully described how with the changing time two love birds become too busy being engaged with their family affairs.”

“With the childishness within them they used to enjoy their love during their young age with no worries. This beautiful play has successfully presented aesthetically romantic sequences not less than any big budget film,” she added.

Adding about taking the play ahead Anu said, “This will not end here, our collaboration has just started and we have a dream of taking the theatre scene of Odisha to different heights. I have got immense love, appreciation and support from my beloved audience for our new venture. We are now going to perform at other places in the state very soon.” ‘Bayasara Ante’ is a heartwarming and emotional play that celebrates the enduring power of love between an old couple. This proscenium theatre play was written and designed showcasing love, compatibility and life. It also throws a message to society that the end of your life can be joyful if you have willpower and self motivation. It’s a must watch. ‘Bayasara Ante’ is going to be staged in Puri on 21st, 22nd and 23rd April.