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| Beyond the Pride celebrations, 'Samaj' focused on healing, memory and a sense of belonging. |
Reporting by Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency Kolkata, June 19, 2026: Kolkata witnessed an evening of powerful storytelling and emotional reflection as Pranthakatha performed the Pride Month dance-drama 'Samaj'. The performance explored themes of memory, separation, tolerance and healing through the lived experiences of queer people. The performance, held at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC), transformed personal narratives into a poignant artistic conversation on identity.
Recognition and belonging. Several distinguished guests graced the event, including Mr. Bernard Lynch, Australian Consulate-General, Kolkata; Dr. Santosh Giri, Director of Kolkata Rista; and renowned filmmaker Smt. Sudeshna Roy.
Rukshana Kapadia, food consultant, reviewer and LGBTQ activist; and Suneha Saha, co-founder of Ammolite Ideators and LGBTQ activist. Their presence highlighted the growing importance of creating platforms that foster inclusion, understanding and representation. The Australian Consul in Kolkata praised the role of Prangatkhatha in this initiative.
He commended the organisation for helping to create meaningful engagement among LGBTQIA+ youth. He commended the organisation for creating a safe and inclusive platform where young people from Kolkata and Mumbai can come together through art, storytelling and sharing experiences. The Consulate expressed its delight at seeing diverse voices engage in dialogue, celebrate their identities and encourage greater visibility and inclusion. It congratulated Prangatkhatha for organising a strong Pride Month event that fostered empathy, understanding and meaningful social connections.
More than just a stage performance, ‘Samaj’ unfolded as an intimate and deeply moving experience that combined dance, storytelling, and real-life experiences to explore the many layers of queer life. Presented as part of Pride Month, the production transcended visibility and celebration to reflect on themes such as memory, loss, heartbreak, tolerance, healing, and the search for a place among loved ones. Through powerful performances and candid storytelling, it invited the audience to connect with feelings that felt simultaneously deeply personal and universally familiar. In doing so, ‘Samaj’ created a space for empathy, introspection, and meaningful conversation, reminding everyone of the importance of acceptance, understanding, and human connection.
Speaking at the event, Pranthakatha director Bappaditya Mukherjee said, “Society was envisioned as a space where stories of pain, resilience and healing can be shared with honesty and dignity. Through art, we sought to create conversations that encourage empathy and remind the audience that every journey of belonging is worth seeing and hearing.”
The evening left a deep impression on the audience, many of whom felt deeply connected to its themes of memory, identity, acceptance and hope. Through a powerful blend of artistic expression and life experiences, ‘Society’ created a space for conversations that are often difficult but necessary, and that encourage self-reflection, empathy and understanding. By bringing these stories to the fore with honesty and sensitivity, 'Prantankatha' not only highlighted the transformative power of drama, but also reinforced the importance of creating a space where every person feels seen, heard, and valued. When the curtain came down, 'Society' stood as a poignant reminder that healing begins with recognition, belonging is built through understanding, and meaningful change often begins when stories are shared.