The best thing in Tropa is her devotion to theatre.--Ferdousi

Photo: Nasir Ali Mamun

Interestingly both of their birthdays are on the same date--June 18. This correspondent talked to the mother and daughter on various issues regarding their relationship as well as career.

Ferdousi Majumdar wanted her daughter to be a singer but Tropa was more inclined towards acting since her early days. She used to memorise the dialogues of her mother's plays when she was a mere child. Ferdousi says, 'I always gave her the freedom to choose her own way and I am not really sorry that she has become an actress instead of a singer. And now she holds a position in the theatre as well as in the television plays which is appreciable.'

Ferdousi speaks highly about Tropa's devotion to her work. Likewise, Ferdousi never gets deflected into other activities if she has a performance. To quote Ferdousi, 'Tropa follows the rules of acting that I have always followed, and this makes me feel proud and happy.' She also appreciates her daughter's restrained nature in acting in the commercial dramas at such a young age.

Ferdousi and Tropa are working in the play Madhobi, directed by Ramendu Majumdar, Tropa's father. Ferdousi says: 'I play a Kathok (narrator) in the play. But I am happy to work with my daughter and share the same stage with her.'

Tropa believes that Ferdousi has been her role model since her childhood. Asked which of her mother's performance she thinks is the best one, she says it is very difficult because so many of her performances are remarkable, as in Kokilara, Payer Awaj Pawa Jay and Dui Bon. And among her television roles Tropa can instantly recall one of her charismatic performances--the role of Hurmati in Shahidullah Kaiser's Shangshaptak.

Both of them always critically judge each other's performances. According to Tropa, 'Mother never dictates to me. However, whenever I have a problem in playing any character she guides me and helps me immensely.'

Ferdousi and Tropa share the same birthday on June 18 which is, according to both of them, a very interesting and nice coincidence. Ferdousi recalls those beautiful moments when, before Tropa's marriage, they used to be extremely excited to wish each other on their birthdays. She recalls, 'We used to have a competition on who would wish whom first. Once we both were hurrying to each other's room at midnight to say "Happy Birthday". But we met in the corridor and nearly had a collision.' Tropa used to hide the gift she had bought for her mother. They still usually have a family treat on this special day.

Tropa counts this shared birthday as a blessing. 'This is something very interesting and exciting which happens very rarely. Sometimes people do not even believe that this is true,' she says.