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Tagore's birth anniversary celebration at National level

Music, dance and drama at Shilpakala
9 May 2007, 18:00 PM
LIFESTYLE
By Ershad Kamol
9 May 2007, 18:00 PM
Fahim Hossain Chowdhury and Iffat Ara Dewan sing at the programme (Top), Artistes of Jago Art Centre perform their dance composition. PHOTO: STAR
The made his presence felt everywhere: Rabindranath Tagore was a great poet, author, playwright, lyricist, composer, painter and much more. Almost all forms of art that Tagore had contributed to were presented at the National Theatre Stage, Shilpakala Academy on May 8 to mark the 146th birth anniversary of Kobiguru. As part of Tagore's birth anniversary celebration at National level, Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) jointly organised the event. Performing dance, music, poetry recitation and dance-drama, leading artistes and troupes of the country paid homage to Tagore. Ayub Quadri, advisor to -- Ministry of Education, Primary and Mass Education and Cultural Affairs -- was the chief guest of the programme.

The event began with presentation of two choral renditions by Sangeet Bhaban. Noted singers including Ajit Roy, Fahim Hossain Chowdhury, Lily Islam, Iffat Ara Dewan, Mahiuzzaman Chowdhury and Hashi Biswas rendered some evergreen Tagore songs. However, melancholy songs at a birth anniversary celebration by some artistes seemed quite inappropriate to the audience. Perhaps, these songs would be apt for special programmes on death anniversaries.

Kazi Arif, Nur-e-Hafza, Rezaul Hasan Titu, Mahmudul Hassan and others recited excerpts from Tagore poems. Moreover troupes -- Srishti Cultural Centre, Nandan Kala Kendra, Jago Art Centre and Sarara Sangskritik Sangathan -- staged group dance at the event.

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Another attraction of the evening was the staging of Tagore's dance-drama Chitrangada by Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA).

Illustrating the love story (a brief reference in Mahabharat) between legendary Pandava hero Arjun and Chintrangada, the princess of Manipur, Tagore's dance-drama addresses that one's true identity and realisation of self-worth is more important than assuming a false front just to please others. The dance-drama was directed by Rahija Khanom Jhunu. Sohel Rahman, Farhana Chowdhury Baby, Farzana Ria Chowdhury and Abdur Rashid Chowdhury performed leading roles in Chitrangada. Sadi Mohammed, Rezwana Chowdhury Bonna and Sajed Akbar rendered songs used as background music.

A publication featuring Tagore's paintings and articles, evaluated by leading scholars of the country, was also launched at the programme.