From empty college auditoriums to overlooked performances, college theatre festivals in Delhi have made a major leap. Day 2 at “Mukhatib”, the second edition of the theatre festival organised by Shunya, the Dramatics Society of Ramjas College of Delhi University, in association with The Indian Express, opened with 12 colleges cranking out a diatribe against issues ranging from illiteracy and poverty to women’s rights, with their rousing street plays to a packed audience. Gargi College’s Hum Kitne Hain tackled overpopulation while Kirori Mal College’s stirring Bekabu dealt with mob psychology. The play also critiqued the popularity of vigilantism as it becomes an alternative law in itself.
The plays, held on the canteen lawns, saw a huge crowd from 11 am till 4 pm until the last group gasped a last theatrical gasp. “It was quite exciting as for the first time in Ramjas theatre festival, students stayed back till the last group packed up. Also, we have come a long way since we started last year. This time we had technical support from a company for theater,” says Anmol Ahuja, on the organising committee of Ramjas College. The stage finals would be held on January 31 at 10 am.
