Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the controversial Polish play containing some nude scenes, which drew criticism from various quarters, the government is mulling seeking an undertaking from the theatre organizations before allowing staging of their plays.
“No organization will be allowed to enact any play which will go against our culture. Therefore, we are thinking of insisting on an undertaking promising no nude or vulgar scenes before enactment," Tourism and Culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda said.
Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy will also keep a close watch on the dramas played by various organisations in and outside the country.
"We will examine each and every scene of the plays coming from outside. They will have to give a CD of the play. If they perform anything beyond the contents of the disk, action will be initiated as per law," Sangeet Natak Academy secretary Dhirendra Mallik said.
Meanwhile, Odia drama troupes have welcomed the move of the government. " May be late, but government ultimately woke up from its slumber. It should have done much earlier," noted drama director Haren Sahoo said.
Notably, Poland-based theatre group Alexander Jiereko had enacted a play ‘Sonaka’ at Rabindra Mandap here on Friday evening. Drama lovers, who witnessed the play, found themselves in a somewhat awkward situation as an actress took off her dress till her waist to portray the character she was playing.
The scene had drawn flak from various quarters. Activists of 'Nari Sachetan Manch' had blocked the Rabindra Mandap-PMG square road and burnt the banners of various troupes protesting the play on Saturday.
The drama was showcased as part of the ongoing national theatre festival organised by NSD in collaboration with the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and the state Culture department.