Nashik: Students from schools across the district have bagged top honous at the two-day children’s theatre festival organized by the Nashik chapter of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, beating some of the leading amateur theatre groups in the city.Students from school teams also dominated the individual prize tally. Results were declared on Thursday followed by a prize distribution function at Kalidas Kala Mandir.‘Amhala Shala Pahije’ (We want school), a play presented by Mahatma Gandhi High School in Igatpuri, won the overall first prize, while ‘Relay’ presented by city-based Progressive Education Society’s school won the second award.Vidya Prabodhini Prashala’s ‘Taati Ughada’, a play based on the life of 12th century saint Dnyaneshwar, won the third prize, while ‘Vanarai’, a play based on forest conservation, presented by Sunanda Lele Vidya Mandir won the consolation prize.Satish Lotake, chief secretary of Bal Rangbhoomi (theatre body), Dr Avinash Andhale, director Suvichar Hospital and senior journalist Kiran Agrawal were the chief guests at prize distribution function.From next year onwards, this competition will be held for entire Nashik division and plays from Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Nandurbar will get an entry, the organizers announced during the prize distribution function.Commenting on the result, Prof Ravindra Kadam, president of Nashik chapter of the ABMNP, said that students in schools give better presentations. “Coordination of students studying together in schools is better; hence, their way of presentation is better compared to those from the amateur theatre groups, who practice together for a limited period,” he said.Being a teacher in leading school of Nashik, he appealed schools to promote theatre. “The result is quite inspiring for schools. Big names like Deepak Mandal, Lokhitavadi mandal were in the competition. Still, schools proved their mettle. More schools should come forward and join theatre movement. We expect more entries from next year,” he said.Winners in individual categories include: Lavanya Jadhav, Yuga Kulkarni, Arya Deshpande, Sharvayu Dhemse, Varun B and Krishna Rajput (Best acting prizes). Ajinkya Kulkarni, Anuj Jadhav, Abhishek Jadhav, Shubham Jadhav, Mayuri Mhasne, Sneha Gaikwad, Deeksha Daokhare, Madhura Kutti, and Shrushti Pandit won appreciation certificates for good acting.

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