Students depict tale of perseverance and determination at annual concert
Times of India | 26 August 2024
12 Kolkata: In the remembrance of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman astronaut, Bidya Bharati Girls’ High School staged a spectacular musical theatre, titled ‘Reach For The Stars’, the finale of Rhapsody 2024, Bidya Bharati Group of Schools’ annual concert, that was held recently at Science City auditorium. Three months of toil by all students along with the teaching and non-teaching staff culminated in the play’s grand success.The show was directed by Pandit Dishari Chakroborty, a Hindustani classical musician and film composer. An amazing fusion of act and dance had the audience enthralled throughout.
The drama featured four students, portraying the distinct four ages of Kalpana, from childhood to her final days, supported by other co-actors. The enormous stage was partitioned into three different zones; the central, left and right zones displaying the scenes of Kalpana’s family house, her academic tenure in India and the NASA, respectively.
The play, began and ended with the same scene — crash of the space shuttle Columbia STS-107. The turbulence and ultimately the tragic blast of the spacecraft when displayed by the dancers, was a sight to behold. The dance performances amidst the drama, amplified the theme. The dancers showcased wonderful choreographies on Rabindra Sangeet, which were paired with English recitation of the lyrics, all recorded by the students.
The ingenuity of the play lies in the unique direction, authenticity of data, smooth transition between the scenes and the excellent performance put up by the students.