Chilekothar Sepai

Probir Sardar, the central character, in a scene from the play

Ratan Siddiqui has dramatised Aktaruzzaman Elia's popular novel Chilekothar Sepai, which is set against the backdrop of the unstable political situation of our country during 1969. Ratan has only selected the urban part of the novel for the adaptation.

Before the country's Liberation, 1969 is the most eventful year in our political history. In those days, two movements-- a six-point demand by Awami League and an 11-point demand by the students-- simultaneously led people against the Pakistani oppressors. Through Osman, the central character in the play Chilekothar Sepai, the students' movement was depicted as more influential than the six-point demand. Interestingly Ratan, in his play, shows that these leaders keep in touch with those people who strongly support Pakistani concept. To Osman, all the speeches delivered by the leaders are based on self-interest. Which is why, they have little impact on Osman. But, the death of Khijir, a proletariat patriot, forces Osman to revolt against the Pakistani regime.

Director Kamaluddin Kabir is realistic. However, he has failed to create the dramatic conflicts effectively on stage.

To create a different ambience on stage, set designer Faiz Zahir has used three different scenarios on the stage. But, the light design is not appropriate. Certain parts of the scenarios remained visible when the performers performed at a different zone of the set, which is regarded as a bad light set up. Moreover, more symbolic colour effects could have been used.

Probir Sardar, as the central character of the play, has failed to do justice to his role, which demands a vivid transformation of his emotions and reactions. Fahmida Haque Koli is monotonous. Munim Islam Shimul and Ratan Deb performed well.