Dhaka Drama Festival 2004

A play well worth watching

Aamar Shantan Aamar Aanchal directed by Abdullah Al Mamun focuses on a contemporary social problem -- terrorism. Abdullah Al Mamun's approach to the crisis is not a realistic one. He has emotionally dealt with the social problem-- a mother's role in preventing her child from falling into evil ways. As the sub-plot in the play, Mamun has not only pointed out the disastrous impact of terrorism but also analysed the reason behind terrorism.

Aamar Shantan Aamar Aanchal's focuses on the theme that no human being takes birth as a terrorist; it is the evil politicians that make them turn to the wrong path.

Rowshan Ara Hussain's role as a director deserves praise. She has successfully recreated the atmosphere of a park on the stage where all the events of the play take place. Her compositions of the morning scenes at the park are really enjoyable. However, there is a lack of momentum during her compositions of the night scenes when all the evil takes place.

Aminur Rahman Azam has made a spider and its web with a rope backstage. The aim is to symbolically represent the trap created by evil politicians in the society to draw young men into terrorism. The remaining part of his set remained unutilised.

Azam's light design is also simple but effective. His simple colour effects could symbolically represent the emotion of the artistes.

Aminur Rahman as the hero, Fahmida Khatun Ruma as his beloved and Upal Khan as poet performed well. Rubal, Rabi and Tapan as the three terrorists could have done better.

Abdullah Al Mamun: 'Shilpakala ought to patronise plays'
Renowned theatre activist Abdullah AL Mamun was the ex Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. On the Dhaka Drama Festival 2004 Mamun said, 'When I was the DG of Shilpakala Academy I opened the Experimental Theatre Stage through a drama festival. However, a few infrastructural works were not finished then. After the change of government in 2001, the new authority took too long to use it for theatre groups. But because of the BGTF's pressure, they have helped the theatrical groups to arrange a festival. This is not acceptable as it is the duty of Shilpakala to patronise plays.'

'I am not directly participating in any plays in the festival because of my ill health. That is why my group Theatre (Baily Road) is staging Madhobi instead of Meraz Fakirer Maa. And in Madhobi Ramendu will play my role as Jajati,' Mamun added.

Ershad Kamol