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Nasiruddin and Shimul- the dynamic duo in theatre

17 August 2003, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Culture Desk
17 August 2003, 18:00 PM
Theatre in Bangladesh has a century old tradition. But it leaped into animated activity on stage immediately after the independence. Also there began a brisk business, drama lovers queuing in at the bustling Bailey Road became a common sight. Youthful and passionate adherents of the medium worked tirelessly to modernise the form and content of our local theatrical expression. Adaptations from exotic plays and a score of newly written and some experimental ones won the applause of a nascent urban audience. Playwrights were more successful in establishing a distinct theme and content than form in our local plays.

Dhaka Theatre was founded on July 29, 1973 by some young and talented freedom fighters. Their aim was to establish Bangla drama form in the history of world drama. The founder members are Nasiruddin Yusuf, Selim-Al-Deen, M Hamid, Raisul Islam Asad, Apurbo Mojumder, Abdul Kader, Al-Monsur and others. Among them the fabulous four who rose into prominence are--Nasiruddin Yousuf, Shimul Yousuf, Selim-Al-Deen and Jamil Ahmed. They contributed largely to make this form of mass entertainment. While playwrights Selim-Al-Deen and Jamil Ahmed, the latter known more for his technical skill, sought to find out the root of the Bangla plays, Nasiruddin Yousuf continued trying to stage the plays by Selim-Al-Deen with perfect direction.

In its thirty years, the group has produced a good number of talented and renowned actor/actresses like Shimul Yusuf, Humayun Fareedi, Suborna Mustafa, Afzal Hossain, Raisul Islam Asad, Jahiruddin Piyar, and produced a total of 32 plays.

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Shimul, known as 'Mancha Kushum' rose into popularity because of her unique combination of powerful performance and vocal excellence. In late 60s Shimul Billah was a noted singer on children's programmes on the radio and later on TV as well.

Singing has always been like a hobby to her, so her career as a singer is an extra achievement for her. She considers herself more as an actress, a theatre worker and likes working on the stage. To bring fruition to her career she would like to teach young performers the art of acting and also compose music for her plays.

Nasiruddin's passion for directing is because through this form he can express his creativity more successfully than other branches of drama. His ultimate goal is to establish Bangla drama form in the history of drama as well as find out its root.

Some of the unique productions directed by him are Kirton Khola, Keramotmongol, Bonopangshul, Prachch and of course Hathhadai.

Shimul and Nasiruddin are known as the dynamic duo in the drama circle.