Will a time come when a fancy dress competition in a university youth festival happens without the participants performing the clichéd roles of beggars and leprosy patients?
The wait may be long as the ongoing edition of the Mahatma Gandhi University youth festival too disappointed the audience when youngsters enacted on stage the oft-repeated characters.
For the audience who turned up at the Durbar Hall venue despite the scorching heat on Thursday, the much-awaited fancy dress competition failed to present a refreshing experience. Except for a few performances, the event could not lift up the spirit of the fest that is already reeling under poor turnout and organizational hiccups.
As expected, the event began with students mapping the plight of Endosulfan victims and leprosy patients on stage.
A welcome relief came towards the middle of the competition when a participant enacted the role of an elderly in search of drinking water. The presentation mapped the threat of water scarcity looming large over millions across the globe. When the results were announced, Neenu Rajeev, who enacted the role, was adjudged the winner of the event.
Chitra Lakha of St. Thomas College, Ranni emerged runner-up followed by Nandini M. Kumar of St. Teresa’s College and Sugesh of Sacred Heart College, Thevara, who shared the third prize.