Batighar’s Muktonil honoured with Solaiman award

Actor-director Sanjoy Sarkar Muktonil, leader of the theatre troupe Batighar, has received this year's "SM Solaiman Pranodona 2025", an award established by the Theatre Art Unit to recognize young talents in Bangladeshi theatre.

The prize was formally handed over on Monday evening at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka.

The event opened with performances of two of SM Solaiman's own songs, "Mayer Shagor" and "O Amar Ek Jonmer Jibon Re", followed by readings—Hasnat Pradip recited Theatre Art Unit's statement, while Lemon presented a brief biography of Solaiman.

Later, Muktonil was presented with a commemorative crest and a cheque as part of the award.

The second half of the evening featured a discussion on "The responsibility and reality of stage workers in the dream of change, and the struggle to survive", with noted theatre figures Naila Azad Nupur, Azad Abul Kalam, Bakar Bokul, and Shamima Shawkat Lovely speaking. The session was chaired by Selim Mahbub, chief coordinator of Theatre Art Unit, and moderated by Ferdous Amin Biplob.

Born on 29 September 1953, SM Solaiman died in 2001, leaving behind a transformative legacy. Over a career spanning just 48 years, he adapted and directed more than 30 plays, founded multiple theatre groups, including Theatre Art Unit, and served as general secretary of the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation. He was posthumously awarded the Ekushey Padak in 2014.

His repertoire—marked by a blend of folk traditions, music and biting political satire—includes enduring productions such as "Khyapa Paglar Pyanchal", "Ingit", "Gani Mia Ekdin", "Ah Comrade", "Election Caricature", "Ei Deshe Ei Beshe", "Court Martial", "Birth Fantasy", "Golapjan" and the much-revived musical "Amina Sundari", based on a Chittagong folk tale.

Since 2005, the Theatre Art Unit has awarded the SM Solaiman Pranodona annually to promising theatre artists or troupes. Past recipients include Aminur Rahman Mukul, Saidur Rahman Lipon, Shahadat Hossain, Anwarul Haque, Kazi Toufiq-ul Islam Imon, Trupa Majumder, Sudip Chakraborty, Samina Lutfa, Ramiz Raju, Bakar Bokul, Mohsina Akter, Sayek Siddiqui, as well as theatre groups like Somonnoy Theatre (Pabna Chatmohar), Manipuri Theatre (Kamalganj, Moulvibazar) and Protikkha Theatre (Habiganj).