Mirage Melodies’ Uses Child’s Dream World to Warn of Water Crisis at Sadaneera Samagam

Day 4 of Sadaneera Samagam: Children’s Play ‘Mirage Melodies’ Moves Audience; Odissi ‘Jal Pravah’ Celebrates Water and Culture

On the fourth day of Sadaneera Samagam, organised by Veer Bharat Nyas under the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh, a children’s play and classical dance performances delivered powerful messages on water conservation and cultural consciousness at Bharat Bhavan.

‘Mirage Melodies’ Highlights Water Scarcity and Human Values
Staged at Antarang Auditorium, the 60-minute bilingual play Mirage Melodies — directed by Mumbai-based theatre artist Ipsita Chakravarti Singh — captivated audiences. Through an engaging narrative in Hindi and English, the play delivered a compelling message on water conservation, ecological balance, and human sensitivity.

The story follows Neel, a curious boy who enters a mysterious dream world where water is so scarce that people quench their thirst with tears. There he meets Oni, and together they set out to find solutions to save their parched world. As they face challenges, Neel and Oni learn the importance of water, the need for environmental conservation, and the wise use of natural resources.

The play powerfully conveyed that Earth’s water resources are finite and conserving them is everyone’s responsibility. It also underscored human values of friendship, cooperation, empathy, and collective effort.

Cast & Crew: Arpit Shashwat, Bhaskar Sharma, Chirag Khandelwal, Gurinder Kumar, and Pratiksha Kote delivered impressive performances. Written by Chirag Khandelwal and Sahil Ahuja, the play featured music by Chirag Khandelwal and Ipsita Chakravarti Singh, lighting by Vikrant Thakur, set design by Dhriti Sharma, and poster design by Shiraz Hussain.

Folk Songs and Odissi ‘Jal Pravah’ Enrich the Evening
Earlier, on the Purva Rang stage, Swati Ukhale & troupe, Ujjain presented folk songs centered on water. On the Bahirang stage, the Odissi dance production ‘Jal Pravah’, directed by Madhavi Mudgal, New Delhi, mesmerised audiences with its blend of Indian classical dance, water symbolism, and cultural consciousness.

The Odissi recital opened with Ganga Stavan, a graceful portrayal of the sacred Ganga flowing from Lord Shiva’s locks, bringing to life its purity and life-giving essence. Vadya Vaividhya showcased Odisha’s rich rhythmic traditions through dance. Taapoi revived Odisha’s maritime trade heritage and folklore, depicting a girl’s struggle, faith, and reunion with family. The finale, Sphuran, captured the subtle harmony of sound, rhythm, and movement.

The ensemble included Shalakha Rai, Sudha Mukhopadhyay, Shobha Bisht, Deepika Bisht, among others. Choreography by Madhavi Mudgal, music composition by Madhup Mudgal and Mahendra Rao, and lighting design by Beti Joshi enhanced the production.

On the occasion, Shriram Tiwari, Trustee Secretary, Veer Bharat Nyas, felicitated the artists with a specially designed memento of Sadaneera Samagam and bouquets.