Dhaka Padatik presents Katha 71

A scene from the play Katha 71

Most of the current plays on the Liberation War present a fragmented story of that time and they show the anguish and wrath of the freedom fighters in the post-Liberation country. However, Katha 71 departs from its ilk as it presents direct events of the Liberation War.

The play starts with a procession sequence in post-Liberation Bangladesh, where prominent figures of the society deliver speeches against the Pakistani collaborators. One such character realises that his son is influenced by western lifestyle. Subsequently, the spirit of the Liberation War comes alive through a debate between the father and son. Through their dialogue the victims of the War appear on stage in flashback scenes.

Katha 71 portrays the events of Dhaka in 1971. The play shows the freedom struggle from the vantage of "Operation Search Light", the master plan of Pakistani Army to abolish the Bangalees from the face of earth on the eve of March 25. Bal, in his play has depicted the fractional stories of genocide by the Pakistani Army and their collaborators.

Katha 71 ends optimistically by awakening the younger generation to the reality and spirit of the War.

Director Debashish Ghosh has utilised the stage as well as the balcony of the theatre hall. All the indoor sequences are created at different corners of the balcony while the outdoor aspects are created on the empty stage. His choreography in portraying the war scenes deserves plaudits. Throughout the play Debashish has composed more than one sequence to create the realistic ambience of war. However, sometimes it was difficult for the audience to keep track of all the events. Moreover, the light design needs to be improved.

Katha 71 is a teamwork-based production. And the artistes deserve kudos for their remarkable performance.