Gopal ChhotrayGopal Chhotray (1916-2003) was born in Purunagarh village of Jagatsinghpur, a part of the erstwhile district of Cuttack, in Odisha, India. He is considered to be one of the chief architects of modern Odia theatre. He brought in significant changes inthe morphology of Odia plays, both in theme and structure. He rescued them from the hold of opera and melodrama, and the overbearing influence of neighbouring Bengal. Gopal Chhotray dominated the Odia professional theatre for more than three decades. Beginning with Pheria (Come Back) in 1946, he wrote more than 15 original stage plays and 8 adaptations of eminent Odia novels, most of which were runaway success in professional stage. There were days, when both the professional theaters of Cuttack, holding daily shows, used to stage his plays concurrently. Read More Read Less