Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal, Dharmmangal, a Bengali folk drama, was staged on Saturday at Shaheed Bhavan. The play was staged under the theatre festival series, Aadi Mahotsav.
Dharmmangal is a primeval, classic poem which is centred on Rahr tribe of West Bengal that resides near the Chhotanagpur plateau. A true epic, it was penned in the 6th Century and is a part of time-honoured Bengali literature.
The poem revolves around empire of Lo Sen. Lo Sen laid the foundation of an empire where the people of the state play a vital role in the government. Lo Sen is the son of Ranjavati and Karna Sen, whose marriage takes place with the blessings of King Debpal, the last king of the Pal dynasty.
Ranjavati’s brother, Mahamod, opposes this marriage and turns into a sworn enemy. He spends his whole life planning to kill Lo Sen. In the end, Lo Sen wins and establishes an empire which includes public involvement.
Dharmmangal has been conceptualised and directed in the form of drama by Dr Ujjwal Mukherjee, who dramatised the unsung epic of emergence of Sen Raj with blessings of God Dharma. Thirty-two artistes acted on stage in the 120-minute drama and entertained the audience with its grandeur and rich culture.