Dwelling on the change-over in the life and philosophy of emperor Ashoka after Kalinga War, eminent danceuse-social activist Alakananda Roy has roped in prison inmates in the second dande-drama of Mokshagati.
"Over 60 inmates from the three correctional homes are involved with this project Mokshagati which dwells on the transformation phase in Ashoka's life after the Kalinga massacre as seen through the eyes of a Mother, Mother Earth or Bharat Mata who prays for forgiveness for the wrong doer," Alakananda told PTI about the unique 3D presentation.
"Not everything can be preached. If they identify with the very soul and spirit of music, art they will start liking it, may be they will be more emotionally involved with the message than professional artistes," Alakananda, fondly called Maa by the cast members of the stage play, said.
Mokshagati, where prisoner Narendra is one of the main protagonists having witnessed the cycle of death in the Kalinga war and metamorphed into an emissary of peace and Buddhism, Alakananda smiled, "He is very reverential to me, he always wants my affection. He could be my next Balmiki, who knows."
Asked why Nigel Akkara, who turns up in the visuals coming up on the screen of the stage as the angst-ridden emperor but not among the stage performers, Alakananda said, "Nigel is no longer a prisoner. So don't want to hold him back. Since he became the face of Balmiki Pratibha, he had been with the troupe of 'my wards in home' for so long. Now it is the time for the new Balmiki to take over in the dance drama."
Asked to recall the days when she first met Nigel, Alakananda said, "There was this initial resistance, this reluctance to everything. The tinge of suspicion. And that is quite natural. And now you all know how he proved himself. Muktodhara, the film, may be largely fictional but the spirit counts, that was indeed the motto of his life."
Sitting through the performance, two children of Mukti Reahabilitation Centre, Sk Raju and Sk Halim recalled how they were sucked into the whirlpool of crime, drug unless coming in contact with the people of the NGO who imparted them education and tips in extraa-curricular activities.
