Ranchi: Award winning actor, theatre artist and playwright Arun Mukherjee on Thursday said theatre has been the voice of society over the years and youngsters trying to enter the world of theatre need to understand the issue well.Interacting with theatre enthusiasts from the city during the National School of Drama’s ongoing Bharat Rang Mahotsav festival, the 82-year-old thespian said, “Great theatre toes the line between an entertainment source and a change-making tool. It reflects society and youngsters trying to enter the world of theatre need to understand that over the years that theatre has borne the burden of its times.”Mukherjee was speaking at the ‘Living Legends’ section of the festival at Aryabhatta Auditorium. Replying to a question from an actor from Ranchi, Vinamra Kumar, who is also an engineering degree holder, Mukherjee said: “Back in our days, we didn’t have as many restrictions as this generation has. I have been involved with theatre since my college days and I earned my living as a lower divisional clerk. I had one passion — to direct plays that stood out and that helped me stand out.”Mukherjee is the founder of Kolkata-based theatre group Chetana, which continues to stage plays across the country and is known for its plays like ‘Morich Sombad’ and ‘Jagannath’, both critically acclaimed for their social relevance and as the voice of the oppressed sections of society. He later enacted a few scenes with his student, Sangita Pal, from his popular play ‘Jagannath’, first staged in 1997. Their performances received a standing ovation from the audience.Jagannath is about a young man who admits to a crime he never committed just to achieve a moral high ground and then is forced to face the bitter reality to an extent that he chooses to embrace death while Morich Sombad uses a mythical plot to highlight the “oppression” of farmers — which many find it still relevant today.Rothin Chatterjee, who has been active in the theatre circles of Ranchi since the past few decades, also shared his experiences as a member of the audience. “I was in Ranchi when Arun da’s (Mukherjee’s) play Morich Sombad was staged in Ranchi’s Mecon in 1977. It is a great honour to interact with him and have him in Ranchi amongst us again.”

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