LUCKNOW, April 10 -- As part of the Bharatendu Natya Academy's (BNA) Golden Jubilee year celebrations, two diverse plays were featured on Thursday evening. At the BM Shah Auditorium, Premchand's 'Budhi Kaki' was staged, with the protagonist played by six actors. In another production, Vijay Tendulkar's 'Massage,' renowned actor Rakesh Bedi played 24 characters all by himself. 'Budhi Kaki,' directed by Abhishek Pandit, poignantly portrays the helplessness of old age and the growing selfishness in relationships. The story centers on an elderly woman, Budhi Kaki, who symbolises the cycle of time where joy and sorrow come and go. After transferring all her property to Buddhiram, she becomes a victim of neglect. One of the most heart-wrenching scenes depicted her trying to satisfy her hunger by eating leftovers from discarded leaf plates. Roopa's change of heart and remorse left a powerful message for society. Artists including Mamta Pandit, Dr Alka Singh, Neha Siddhi Mitra, Shiva Kumar Yadav, Angad Kashyap and Satyam Kumar brought the characters to life with their compelling performances. In the second play, 'Massage,' directed by Harbans Singh Bisht, the story revolves around a young man named 'Ubak,' who arrives in Mumbai with dreams of becoming a hero. However, the harsh realities of life lead him to the doorstep of a massage parlor. His journey-from an ordinary masseur to an elite 'stress buster'-introduces him to various people, each representing a different shade of society. Without any elaborate props or grand setups, Rakesh Bedi exposed the true faces of film producers, politicians and various sections of society using only his voice modulation and body language. While infused with humor, the play's ending compelled the audience to reflect on urban loneliness and the erosion of human values. Musical performer Suchrita Das Gupta rendered songs, including 'Sakhi Keh Do Sawariya Se' and 'Sunakar Mantramughda Kiya,' as part of the festival....