Dhaka Drama Festival 2004

A scene from the play Tahader Katha

The play starts with the story of a convict, the protagonist of the play, who has just been released from jail. He had been interred in prison for murdering a Pakistani collaborator after the Liberation. To suit their dubious political interests, his comrades of the freedom fight of 1971, have become the friends of the Pakistani collaborators and try to use the true patriot for their own ends. The society, his friends and even his son consider him insane and tell him to compromise with reality in the interest of his family. However, he refuses everything and ultimately fails to save his daughter from the evil elements of the society.

The use of two comic characters- a magician and his sycophant- as the relief in the tragic play is successfully handled by the playwright.

Farhad Zaman Palash's direction, however, needs to be improved. Without using the obscene scenes, the director could have shown the protagonist's antipathy to reality.

Saifur Rahman Raju's set design did not adequately represent the theme of the play. The light design of the play was simple.

Saifur Rahman Raju, as the protagonist of the play, did justice to his character. However, the other performers needed to hone their histrionic ability.

'The theatre of Bangladesh will develop rapidly' --SM Mohsin
SM Mohsin, the Director of Drama and Film Department of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is very pleased at the progress of the Dhaka Drama Festival-2004. He is particularly complimentary about the Experimental Theatre Stage at Shilpakala Academy as the venue for the festival.

Mohsin said, 'The Experimental Theatre Stage is an ideal venue for any type of festival, whether it is the staging of drama, music or dance. We support the cultural organisations by giving them subsidies to organise festivals. In fact, our only ambition is to display quality plays at Shilpakala.

'Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, more specifically the Drama and Film Department, is trying to boost theatre in Bangladesh by arranging several workshops and providing other technical support like sound and light. We will establish an archive, a rich library and other possible inputs for the development of drama. In future, I expect that a National Repertory Company will be formed here,' he added.

In conclusion, he said, 'After the festival, I expect that the audience will acknowledge the Experimental Theatre Stage as the best theatre venue. And the theatre of Bangladesh will develop rapidly.'

Ershad Kamol

Schedules (June 30-July 05)
June 30
Play: Bou Basanti
Playwright: Ratan Siddiqui
Director: Azad Abul Kalam
Group: Udichi

July 01
Play: Kanjush (Moliere)
Adapted by Tariq Anam Khan
Director: Liakat Ali Lucky
Group: Loko Natya Dal

July 02
Play: Shat Ghater Kanakari
Playwright & Director: Momtazuddin Ahmed
Group: Theatre (Arambagh)

Venue: Experimental Theatre Stage at Shilpakala Academy; Time: 7 pm
Tickets are available at Sagar Publishers, Baily Road and at the venue before shows.
Prices: Tk. 30, Tk. 50 and Tk. 100.
Schedules, provided by BGTF, are subject to change without any prior notice.