Desh Natok stages Jonom-e Jonmantor

Actors in the play

Jonom-e Jonmantor revolves around an underprivileged childless couple -- Akalu and Tepi and their destiny. Living in a village, they are honest and happy with their simple life. Crows have been used as a metaphor, depicting a marginalised class of people and their ill fate.

When an old banyan tree is cut down, hundreds of crows become homeless. The crows fly off to the nearest village Boikanthapur. While they are mistreated everywhere, Tepi sees their plight and provides them water. The crows are surprised by Tepi's generosity.

In a turn of sad events Akalu and Tepi, like the crows. also become homeless and move to Dhaka. As fate continues its cruel game, the local community conspires to kill them. The group of crows once helped by Tepi, come to the couple's rescue. However human intelligence humbles the friendly crows and Akalu and Tepi are burnt to death. Thousands of crows bring them out of the burnt ashes and take them high above the sky to incarnate them into crows.

Mahbub Leelen, member of Desh Natok explains "Crows are one of the most despised birds in our country; people always try to shoo them away. They are the untouchables like a certain class of marginalised people."

Amidst the gloomy bamboo set up of a makeshift house and the tragic story, a certain amount of humour was brought in by the eccentric character Tepi who talks to nature, a cigarette vendor and a dim-witted thug who appears towards the end of the play.

The event was organised by Shadhona, a centre for advancement of South Asian music, dance and cultural heritage with the support of the Indian High Commission.