Bhubaneswar: The Odia accent, which fails to differentiate ‘sh’ from ‘ss’ and ‘z’ from ‘g’, has often been a subject of caricature in Hindi and English-speaking circles. However, the natives are mocked at for all the wrong pronunciations and appreciated for being hardworking, diligent and helpful, in the same breathe.
English play ‘Two Adorable Losers’ played around these to create a riot of laughter that reverberated through Rabindra Mandap here on Sunday.
Mumbai-based theatre writer-actor Abhishek Patnaik and Darsheel Safary of ‘Taare Zameen Par’ fame made everyone relate to their conversation. The intertwined punch lines interspersed all through the play had the audience in stitches.
The deal between the Odia professor Jolly Mohapatra, who was preparing for the annual day speech, and his student Akshay, who wanted extra classes to pass in Statistics exam, undoubtedly captivated the audience mind.
The most hilarious of all the scenes was when Akshay starts talking in ‘Cuttacki’ dialect while the duo watch the 1983 Cricket World Cup final. The play depicted the Odia lifestyle to a T with the professor playing Akshaya Mohanty’s ‘He Phaguna Tume’, offering pakhala (water rice) and wearing a lungi while at home.
Initially, Akshay makes fun of the professor’s pronunciation, but he soon starts enjoying his company. This contract reaps results at the end with Akshay scoring 60 per cent in his exam and the professor delivering a flawless speech.
The event was organised by The Zain Foundation.
