Dhaka Drama Natyadal presents

A scene from Nana Ranger Dinguli

The story revolves around an actor who suffers from internal and external conflict created by the flawed social milieu. Among the questions that arise are: How is an actor treated in the society? Is he simply treated as a means of entertainment? No body cares for his emotion and he doesn't get proper honour except a few claps during the performance.

Nana Ranger Dinguli is an adaptation from Russian drama legend Anton Chekhov's play The Swan Song. Chekhov was tempted to write this one act play at a transitional time when age was catching up with him.

During the adaptation of the play, Ajitesh Bandyopadhyay has portrayed the crisis facing many an aged actor who past his prime is confronted with questions such as whether it is the end of the road for him and what he has achieved.

Is Nana Ranger Dinguli a pessimistic play? Not at all. At the end the protagonist says' "I am still surviving. Actors never retire."

Going back in time to the glorious past of the artiste, in Nana Ranger Dinguli Ajitesh has shown some glimpses of his remarkable performance in the role of Oedipus in the play Oedipus by Sophocles, Raja in the play Raktokarobi by Rabindranath Tagore and others.

Director Mujibur Rahman Dilu has modified the script by Ajitesh Bandyopadhyay, which Dhaka Drama Natyadal staged at Mahila Samity Stage on March 16.

To create humour, Dilu during the modification has used some entertaining elements such as using the dialects of Noakhali, Dhaka and others. His technique-- of transition between the sequences and presenting the play within the play was however, not smooth enough. The play demands quality choreography to make it more interesting.

Dilu as Nijamuddin, the protagonist of the play, performed boldly and spontaneously on the stage in two sequences-- when Nijamuddin expresses his pathos at the beginning of the play, and when Nijamuddin remembers his wonderful performance as Oedipus. Abu Harun Titu as the messenger was impressive. However, the play turned out to be a lukewarm production. Ripon's simple light design needs to be better crafted.