Padatik Theatre Fest opens with two Tagore plays
Two recently produced Tagore plays -- “Kaler Jatra” and “Shesher Kobita” -- were staged on the opening day of the six-day theatre festival arranged by Padatik Natya Sangsad (TSC). The festival began at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, on April 4.
Padatik has been arranging the festival, 'Syed Badruddin Hossain Smriti Natyotshab O Smarak Shammanana 2012', to commemorate the birthday of its former president and noted educationist, the late Syed Badruddin Hossain.
Noted cultural personality Kamal Lohani inaugurated the festival through lighting candles. Among others, veteran theatre personality Ataur Rahman and Secretary General of Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, Jhuna Chowdhury, addressed the audience at the inaugural ceremony. Syed Tasnin Hossain, president of Padatik, presided over the session.
“Kaler Jatra” was staged by Padatik at the Experimental Theatre Hall. An adaptation of Tagore's “Rother Roshi”, the play has been directed by Golam Sarwar.
The play follows a 'roth jatra', an ancient ritualistic Hindu festival. People start gathering at the venue, early in the morning. Efforts are made to move the 'roth' (chariot), but to everyone's surprise it doesn't budge. A priest comes and reads out the holy words, but the chariot remains stationary. The warriors come and pull the bridle but to no avail.
The cast includes Sayeeda Shamshi, Genia Azad, Shakhwat Hossain, Sayem Samad, Jony Khadem and Hamidur Rahman. Junayed Usuf designed the set and light.
Prangane Mor staged “Shesher Kobita” at the National Theatre Hall. The play has been dramatised by Ananta Heera and directed by Nuna Afroz.
The oft-read tragic-romantic story “Shesher Kobita” zooms in on Amit Roy and Labonya Debi, who meet each other after a minor collision of their respective vehicles on a hilly road in Shillong. Amit and Labonya gradually fall for each other. There are other important characters in the story as well, such as Shobhonlal and Ketoki.
Ananta Hera and Ramij R