Nepali play Sunakesharee has been staged at the ongoing Bharat Rang Mahotsav, at the premises of National School of Drama in New Delhi, India, on Friday. The play was staged by a team from Mandala Theatre Nepal. The play, written by Satya Mohan Joshi and directed by Rajan Khatiwada, was first staged at the inauguration of Mandala Theatre in 2012.

Based on a folk tale popular in the Karnali region, Sunakesharee tells the story of the marriage of a young girl. Though she has a number of suitors, not to mention her own cousins, who are determined to tie the knot with her, Sunakesharee picks a king. The play, then, unfurls with two different narratives—one, her married life with the king; the other about one of her cousins’ desperate attempt to win her back.

Speaking to the Post after the staging, director Khatiwada said, “I had aspired to stage a play in the fest since I first partook at the fest a decade ago, as an assistant actor. It’s delightful that now the dream has come true.” 

The staging of the play in New Delhi drew a huge crowd of migrant Nepalis and was received with plaudits. The event also saw the presence of Nepali ambassador to India, Deep Kumar Upadhyay, who graced the performance and congratulated the Nepali team. “Sunakesharee embodies the true essence of the Nepali identity. To have a play that so artistically showcases the Nepali culture and tradition staged in fest like this helps to promote our collective cultural identity,” Upadhyay said. 

Sunakesharee features actors Umesh Tamang, Sulakchhyan Bharati, Som Nath Khanal, Naazir Hussein, Sarita Giri, and Binita Gurung, among others. 

Prior to this, the fest has also featured staging of Kathmandu-based One World Theatre’s interpretation of Anna in the Tropics. Directed by Deborah Merola, the play featured actors Raj Kumar Pudasainee, Rojita Buddhacharya and Samyog Guragain. 

The 19th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav, which features a total of 94 plays, will draw to a close on February 21.