Sushil Meher to play King Kansa in Bargarh Dhanu Yatra | Bhubaneswar News

Sambalpur: Sushil Meher of Chichinda village in Bargarh district has been selected to play King Kansa in the 78th edition of Bargarh Dhanu Yatra.His name was announced on Tuesday after a three-day audition process that lasted till Monday. The names of actors were announced by additional district magistrate and vice-chairman of Dhanu Yatra festival committee, Mahendra Mahapatra.Meher, a seasoned stage performer known for portraying characters like Ravana and Jarasandha, will be performing in Bargarh Dhanu Yatra for the first time.“Though the Bargarh stage will be new for Meher, he has been performing at various other stages,” said committee secretary Sureswara Satpathy.The selection process was competitive, with 291 artists applying for various roles this year. Of the 44 candidates who applied for the role of Kansa, 36 appeared for the final audition, showcasing their talent in voice modulation, stage presence and dramatic intensity.Meher expressed gratitude and excitement upon being chosen. “I had given my best shot. The question and answer session continued for more than 10 minutes and I am thankful to each and every person interviewing me and also the district administration for choosing me. There will be 3-4 languages in which the dialogues will be delivered and it is a great opportunity for me to showcase my talent,” Meher said.Dhanu Yatra, considered as the world’s largest open-air theatre, will be held from Dec 24 to Jan 3. During the 11-day festival, the town of Bargarh transforms into Mathura, the Jeera river becomes Yamuna, and Ambapali turns into Gopapur, recreating the mythology of Kansa’s rule and eventual downfall at the hands of Lord Krishna.