The play centers on Professor Krishnamohan, a zoologist obsessed with proving a folk belief that the first drop of monsoon rain falling on a frog’s hood transforms into a precious jewel. Devoting his life to this improbable theory, he conducts relentless research, collecting and dissecting frogs in search of the imagined gem. His pursuit, however, is condemned by townspeople as blasphemous and antisocial. The drama unfolds on a stormy midnight when the professor returns home with a basket of frogs, only to find his wife Madhavi refusing to let him in. Forced to enter through a broken window, he discovers a mysterious stranger, Veer Vadra, sleeping in the guest room. Disheveled and reeking of slime, with frogs hanging around his neck, Krishnamohan accuses his wife of infidelity, despite having neglected their marriage for years in the name of research. The stranger appears in shifting, symbolic forms—at times human, at times elemental, even resembling the jeweled frog of the professor’s imagination. In a frenzy, Krishnamohan attempts to seize him, believing he has found the gem, but Madhavi intervenes. Ultimately, the jewel evolves from a literal object of ambition into a metaphor for creative awakening and transcendental consciousness.
Writer :
Ramesh P Panigrahi (b. 1944) is engaged on the stage for the lost 63 years, sometimes as a performer, sometimes as a director, sometimes as a folk theatre director moving on the truck boards to put up a jatra performance in the remote country side of Odisha, and occasionally designing the stage or scoring the sound for a production. He has written/published 102 plays in Odia and 23 plays in English published from Delhi or USA. His plays are prescribed for B.A and postgraduate courses for the last 50+ years in Orissan Universities and 7 Ph. D theses have already been awarded on his oeuvre. He has written the screen plays for 8 films and one Hindi serial telecast from Metro Channel. Panigrahi has written the first thesis in India on Sam Shepard, which according to the DAI (Dissertation Abstract International) is the sixth thesis in the international records
Director :
After Bachelor degree in Philosophy he joined the National School of Drama,New Delhi & passed out in the year 1977 with a shinning carrier as an actor designer & director along with one year study in Film making from FTII, Pune as an exchange between NSD & FTII. He has delivered his lot as a Professor in theatre art in the Drama Department of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalay & Sambad School of Media & Culture, Bhubaneswar for some time.
He has adapted selective English Hindi & Kannada plays into Odia language, conducted good number theatre workshops in the country, designed & directed more than hundred plays those stand out as example for theatre workers of the country.His contribution to Indian theatre is note worthy in terms of teaching dramaturgy designing plays & style of presentation in particular. His adaptation of Surendra Verma ‘s ‘Surya ki Antim kiran se Pahli Kiran tak’ also added to the glory of Bahuroopi’ festival few years back.He is also an Awardee of Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi for his contribution to theatre art.
Director’s Note
The play is designed engraving the approach to impressionism, expressionism & construction of volume, line & tone. In such a complex approach to play making common expectations may be deserted since elements of so called entertainment are barriers to foundations of aesthetic principles of art. Hence the play attempts to mount the scenic structure based on the undertone of the interiors of the play. A bit of reception of the gallery would be a blessing to makers of the play.
Group :
RANGADHAARAA academy of theatre art & repertoire was established in the year 1981 with the mission to promote good theatre practice in the country & the state as well. Equipped with sound academic perception of Sj. Dolgovind Rath, alumnus of the National School of Drama (1977) the institution exercisd intensive activities conducting theatre workshops, seminars & stage presentations of rare dramatic literature in grassroot level & cities as well.The institution has contributed to Bahuroopi’ festival of Rangayan’ in the past with a play Ninguli’ based on the short story Tattva’of the National Awardee Gopinath Mohanty ‘ designed & directed by Dolgovind Rath.