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‘Muktijuddher Sangskriti Utsab’ ends

Centenary shows of ‘Ghum Nei’ & ‘Binodini’ celebrated

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Nasir Muzahid :

With the celebration of 100th staging of Mahakal Natya Sampraday’s much admired production ‘Ghum Nei’, the seven-day theatre festival titled ‘Muktijuddher Sangskriti Utsab’ was wrapped up yesterday.
With the purpose of celebrating 40 years of victory of the country, theatre troupe Mahakal Natya Sampraday organised the festival at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy while celebrating 100th show of its highly praised production ‘Ghum Nei’ was the main reason behind arranging such a festival.
The festival included staging of 13 plays by 13 different theatre troupes including two troupes from India, cultural show by several cultural organisations, screening of Liberation War based films, mime show and photo exhibition.
The festival was inaugurated by Azad Abul kalam on December 1 while living theatre legend Ataur Rahman, Director General of BSA and President of Bangladesh Group Theatre federation (BGTF) Liaquat Ali Lucky and chief of Anik Theatre in Kolkata Amolesh Chakroborty were present among others. Bhorer Pakhi Nrityakala made the inaugural session colourful by presenting a group dance along with song “Teer hara ei dhewer sagor pari dibo re…”
On the first day of the festival, theatre troupe Loko Natyadal (Sidweshori) staged ‘Mujib Mane Mukti’ at the National Theatre Hall of BSA. Planned, scripted and directed by Liaquat Ali lucky, the play is a tribute to the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The play portrays the simple childhood of Bangabandhu with a background song. As the story progresses, the child Bangabandhu is seen growing up through different events. Rooted in history, the story of the play depicts the versatile life of Bangabandhu. From his boyhood to the tragic death, the play unfolds every incident of his life.
Though the play was produced to represent Bangabandhu, the way of presentation couldn’t characterise Bangabandhu in a heroic style. Angkan, Rakib and Rahi played the role of Bangabandhu but they didn’t have any dialogue. The audiences, who came to the hall to see a heroic presentation of Bangabandhu, left the hall room being unsatisfied.
However, the theatre lovers started getting the real taste of the festival from the second day as Dhaka Theatre’s much admired production ‘Binodini’ was showcased for the hundred times on that day.
Directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff, the one-act play features Shimul Yousuff as ‘Binodini Dasi’, the pioneering actress of 19th century who had an outstanding contribution to shaping the theatre scene of Bengal.
Under the guidance of late theatre icon Natyacharya Selim Al Deen, Saymon Zakaria scripted the play on the basis of her two autobiographies titled ‘Aamar Kotha’ and ‘Amar Abhinoy Jibon’.
The troupe experimented with the biography of Binodini Dasi and brought her life, work and struggle to stage through the play. Apart from playing the role of Binodini, Shimul Yousuff played a total of 32 characters relating to her life.
The play begins with reading out the diary of ‘Binodini Dasi’ that reveals her rise as an actress from a sorrowful state. Kamaluddin Kabir designed the set of the play while Ishrat Nishat designed lights for the play.
On the same day, Anik Theatre from Kolkata also staged its well-acclaimed Amolesh Chakroborty directed Tagore’s play ‘Tapati’ at the Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA.
Shomoy and Nagorik Natyangon Bangladesh staged ‘Bhager Manush’ and ‘Seisob Dingulo’ respectively at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA.
Adapted by Mannan Heera from Saadat Hasan Manto's popular Urdu short story 'Toba Tek Singh’, ‘Bhager Manush’ was directed by guest director Ali Zaker. The play portrays the exchange agreement of the lunatics between the governments of India and Pakistan after two or three years of the Partition in 1947.
The fourth day of the festival included staging of two popular plays - ‘Circus Circus’ by Prachyanat and ‘Lal Jomin’ by Shunyan.
Written by Mannan Hira, directed by Sudip Chakroborthy and solo performed by Momena Chowdhury, ‘Lal Jomin’ is a theatrical expression of the struggle of a woman during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 and its aftermath. The play reveals a female freedom fighter’s involvement with the war and her woes after 40 years of independence.
Bunan Theatre staged its well-acclaimed production ‘Chaka’ on the fifth day of the festival while Cultural Campaign of Tripura staged ‘Court Martial,’ which was written by Swadesh Dipak, translated by Salil Sarkar and directed by Arun Pal.
Natyacharya Selim Al Deen’s much acclaimed play ‘Chaka’ was directed by Anan Zaman, a student of Al Deen and now teacher at the Department of Drama and Dramatics of Jahangirnagar University.
The seventh day of the festival featured staging of ‘Somoyer Proyojone’ by Theatre Art Unit and ‘Rifle’ by Shobdo Natya Charcha Kendra. Adapted from a story of Jahir Raihan, the play ‘Somoyer Proyojone’ was directed by Md Bari. ‘Rifle’ was directed by Khorshedul Alam while Asit Chandra adapted it from a story of Brecht.
However, the concluding day (yesterday) was the main attraction of the festival as the 100th show of Mahakal Natya Sampraday’s much admired production ‘Ghum Nei’ was staged at the National theatre hall on that day. In the mean time, Subachan Natya Sangsad also staged its highly-praised production ‘Mohajoner Nao’ at the Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA.
Ghum Nei is based on a novel by Nasiruddin Yousuff with the same title. Guerrilla operations by the freedom fighters during the Liberation War have been presented dramatically in the play. John Martin has dramatised and directed the play.
Written by Shakoor Majid and directed by Sudip Chakraborty, ‘Mohajoner Nao’ is a play based on the life and philosophy of Baul Shamrat Shah Abdul Karim.
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