New Delhi : The story of ‘Laila Majnu’, the eternal symbol of star-crossed love opened the 30th Bhartendu Natya Utsav today, as theater lovers geared up for a week long dramatic delight that will showcase eight plays and several artists.

Written by Natharam Gaur, and directed by NSD graduate Anil Chaudhary, the play, a ‘nautanki-styled’ dialogue less performance, depicted the tragically legendary story of Laila Majnu on the first day of the festival.

Born to love but destined to part, the lovers and their era were brought to life in a colorful way but the tragic overtones of unfulfilled love left many moist hearted.

Organized by the Department of Art, Culture and Languages, Government of Delhi along with Sahitya Kala Parishad, Bhartendu Natya Utsav will showcase some of the best plays directed by some veteran directors in the field of Indian theater.

The festival was inaugurated by Ms Amal Allana, the Chairperson of the National School of Drama. With free entry for all theatre lovers, the plays will be staged every evening from March 18 at the Shri Ram Centre Auditorium.

The eight-day festival will feature an array of plays from senior directors like Salima Raza, Sohaila Kapoor, Bapi Bose among others, depicting a wide range of issues on the stage.

Tomorrow, the metaphors and characters of Saadat Hassan Manto will be brought to life in Danish Iqbal’s Ek Kutte Ki Kahaani, a satirical play directed by Salima Raza.

“It is a delight for the Sahitya Kala Parishad to provide a platform to actors, directors and playwrights to showcase their art to theater lovers who yearn for good visual performances. Our endeavor is to motivate and encourage theater artists to excel and outdo themselves,” said Mr. J. P. Singh, Assistant Secretary (Drama), Sahitya Kala Parishad.

Chitralekha, the play based on the well-known novel by the same name by Bhagwati Charan Verma, will be another highlight of the festival. The play will be directed by Surendra Sharma.

The other plays that will feature at the festival are Ek Kutte ki Kahaani, directed by Salima Raza; Kissa Maujpur Ka directed by Chitra Singh; Metamorphosis directed by Kusum Haider; Anaavrit, written and directed by Torit Mitra and Seventeenth July by Baapi Bose.