Remembering a great playwright

S M Solaiman

The artistes of Theatre Art Unit performed songs of the dramas by SM Solaiman. Prothome Bandona Kori Sriguru Chandar from the folktale-based play Amena Shundari, and a song from the play Ei Deshey Ei Beshey depicting anti-autocratic movement of the 1990s, influenced by the unique folk music style, known as Gambhira, were pleasant listening. The artistes also performed about thirty songs composed by S M Solaiman from different plays like Birth Fantasy, Ingeet, Inspector General, Swapno Dekhe Manush, Alal O Dulal, Shunai Kannyar Pala, Court Martial and others directed by the playwright himself. Among others the daughter of the playwright Anika Mahin Eka also performed.

In the play Golapjan the role of Golapjan was played by the talented actress Rokeya Rafique Baby, the widow of SM Solaiman. Her performance as an ordinary woman of the mid-20th century of Old Dhaka, was quite touching. A memoir of the Old Dhaka, the play portrays Golapjan's struggles through childhood, adolescence and youth culminating into her old age.

Earlier a photography exhibition on the life and works of S M Solaiman was inaugurated by Mamunur Rashid, Chairman of Group Theatre Federation. Among other theatre activists, Mannan Hira of Aronnyak and Nasiruddin Yusuf Bachchu, Chairman of Shammilito Shanshkritik Jot, were also present. The speakers said that the death of this unique playwright is a big loss for the theatre arena of this country.