Four-day memorial festival on Selim Al Deen begins

Selim Al Deen, a towering figure of Bangla theatre in post-Rabindranath era, breathed his last on this day in 2008. The playwright, fondly called Natyacharya, is credited as ushering in a new era in our theatre scene trough his plays and extensive research in the field.

Marking the death anniversary of Natyacharya, Dhaka Theatre is holding a four-day programme at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The event, Selim Al Deen Memorial Festival, is supported by the Shilapakala Academy and Bangladesh Graam Theatre. 

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the event at the Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA on January 12 evening. Following the inauguration ceremony, Bunon Theatre from Savar staged their play “Nakshi Kanthar Maath”.  Written by Poet Jasimuddin, the play has been directed by Anan Zaman. 

On January 13, two plays were staged at the festival. Jalalpur Theatre from Jamalpur staged “Shomoy Er Shonglap”, and Drama and Dramatics Department of Jahangirnagar University staged “Kobi” at the Experimental Theatre Hall.

The four-day event features staging of plays by troupes from outside Dhaka, an open seminar, and placing wreaths at the grave of the playwright at JU campus on January 14. The featured plays are “Nakshi Kanthar Maath”, “Shomoy Er Shonglap”, “Kobi”, “Birangana Bimolara”, “Usha Utshab”, “Krishti” and Kongkal O Sharey Tin Haat”.  

Selim Al-Deen was born on August 18, 1949 in Sonagazi Upazila of Feni. He was attracted to Bangla literature at a young age, and wrote a few poems. But later, with encouragement from Munier Chowdhury, he focused on theatre.