Dhaka Drama Festival 2004

A scene from the play

Set against this backdrop is the play Bhager Manush, by Mannan Heera and staged by Shomoy Shankskritik Gashthi (SSG). The 26th production of the group, held on the last day of the Dhaka Drama Festival on July 23, focuses on the sufferings of the border area people during the Partition of the Indian sub-Continent in 1947.

Mannan Heera has adapted Bhager Manush from a short story titled Tobatek Singh by Urdu writer Saadat Hassan Manto. Many historical characters like Gandhi, Jinnah and others are represented in the play as insane because of their activities during the Partition. The play depicts how politicians use religion to fulfill their own nefarious ends and the subsequent impact on the masses.

Heera incorporates witty dialogues in the course of his narration. In his acknowledgement to the play, Heera has said that he modified the original story to show the abuse of religion. A question that arises is whether he has adapted the original story to show the importance of human beings rather than that of religion. Further, why are his characters the victims of the 1947 Partition? He could just as well have shown the sufferings of the people on the India-Bangladesh border--a vital political issue of the day.

Aly Zaker is the guest director as well as the set-designer of the play. He has applied the narrative technique successfully. A few theatrical games have been applied as a part of the choreography. In the case of set-design, he has applied Peter Brook's conception of 'empty-space'.

Thandu Raihan's light designing is simple but not very effective. One expects better work from this famous designer.

The performance of all the artistes has been spontaneous and worth appreciating. Aktaruzzaman as the narrator of the play performed well.

'Experimental Theatre Stage will take theatre one step ahead.' --Tariq Anam Khan
Tariq Anam Khan's group Natyakendra has not taken part in the Dhaka Drama Festival 2004. However, Loko Natya Dal has staged his play Kanjush in the festival. As the Principal Secretary of Natyakendra, Tariq regrets not been able to take part. Said Tariq:' Tauqir Ahmed, the director, as well as the major cast of our current production Protishwaran is busy with filmmaking that is why we could not participate in the festival.'

Talking about his play Kanjush, staged by Loko Natya Dal in the festival, Tariq said, ‘Kanjush is an adapted version of Moliere's The Miser. In the mid- 80s, I adapted it just after completing my education from the National School of Drama, India.'

I am very hopeful about the future of Bangladeshi theatre. The Dhaka Drama Festival will have a great impact on theatre in Bangladesh. Moreover, the Experimental Theatre Stage will take theatre one step ahead.'

Ershad Kamol