Jharsuguda: Young dramatist Sonia Behera from Belpahar in Jharsuguda district has scripted history by becoming the first girl from Odisha to secure admission to the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi.
Sonia, a talented actress from Mirror Theatre, a premier drama institute in western Odisha, has been selected for the three-year Diploma in Dramatics (2026-2029) at Rashtriya Natya Vidyalaya, the country’s highest drama institution. She is receiving congratulations from across the state after qualifying for the prestigious course at NSD’s main campus.
According to the final results released by NSD, Sonia appeared for the preliminary interview, workshop and final selection process held in New Delhi from June 14 to 19. She secured 80.05 marks and ranked 8th in the Indian Merit List.
Associated with Mirror Theatre since 2015, Sonia has earned recognition at the state and national level for her dedication and acting skills. She has played prominent roles in several popular plays including ‘Lal Paen’, ‘Ulpi’, ‘Badkha Dada’, ‘Pachen’, ‘Ramadevi’, ‘Tor Jhumka’, ‘Tor Kiriya’, ‘Bhokar Aneka Rang’ and ‘Panat Kani’.
She received wide acclaim for playing the lead role in Mirror Theatre’s play ‘Kaenjuri’, which created a world record. Her performances in ‘Ulpi’ and ‘Lal Paen’ have also played a key role in introducing Mirror Theatre at the national level.
“Sonia’s success is a historic milestone not only for Mirror Theatre but also for the entire Odisha theatre movement. Her achievement will provide new inspiration to young theatre artists of the state to showcase their talent at the national level,” said Dr. Subash Chandra Pradhan, founder and director of Mirror Theatre.
Sonia said her achievement has become a matter of pride for the entire state, including western Odisha.
“Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Odisha’s own Bijay Mohanty and Ajit Das studied at NSD and earned fame in film and theatre. I am honored to follow that path,” she said.
