Street Play, also known as Nukkad-Natak, was conducted in the FD-II QT by the Department of Theatre. The primary purpose of the event, and the street-play format as a whole, is to raise awareness on social issues and is one of the most compelling forms of grassroots activism. Despite only a modest audience in attendance, the contestants poured their hearts out, making for a moving spectacle.

The event was kicked off by St. Xavier’s, Jaipur, with their play entitled Zeher, tackling the prevalence of drug abuse. Drugs were personified put on trial for murder, with the story interwoven with instances of substance abuse controlling and destroying lives. The performance was relentlessly dark, leaving the audience uncomfortable with the stark nature of the message. The play ended on a cathartic note, with drugs being hung for the crimes they have wrought.

Enthusiastic applause greeted the Hindi Drama Club of BITS Pilani as they took their positions to perform Mazhab Nahin Sikhaata. The play began with the destruction of a masjid by a religious mob, which acted as a trigger for the escalation of pent-up religious tensions. To prevent the violence from becoming monotonous, the play included a brief satirical interlude, dharam ki dukaan, where one might shop for a religion, however each had one common denominator—the moral freedom, or even obligation, to kill the “other”. The play concluded with a chilling scene depicting the conversion of a peace-loving individual into a bloodthirsty religious fanatic, followed by an appeal for peace and humanity by the actors, resulting in prolonged applause. 

The Vivekanand Institution of Professional Studies picked a more recent topic, choosing to critique the University Grants Commission (UGC) decision to autonomize universities. This satire broke the mold of the previous entries and elicited a lot of interest in the audience through their humorous depictions of a family seeking admission into a university. Their comparison of the admission procedure to a mela was memorable, and they were well-received by the audience.

DAV University picked an unusual topic in their street play “On Duty”, paying homage to the sacrifices made by policemen. It provoked the audience to ponder on the working hours and stressful occupations of police persons; all for a general dislike and disrespect. As the character aptly says, in keeping the peace, they lose peace in their lives; in serving society, they are unable to be there for their families; and despite seeking justice for others, there is no justice in their lives. 

The event extended more than three hours beyond its slated time. However, the judges were full of praise for the participants, claiming that the effort being put in and talent on display had never been greater. In order to further improve the performances, the contestants were advised to focus on the very basics of projection and scene-smoothening. The results for the event had not been announced at the time of writing.