Tagore's work Dui Bon to come alive

Tarin (L), Mahfuz and Bipasha in Dui Bon

When this reporter entered the house with its elevated ceiling and ornamented wooden doors, a very dramatic sequence was being shot. Talented actress Bipasha Hayat, in the role of Sharmila, was lying on a bed. She looked genuinely ill and devastated thanks to her appropriate make up and, of course, her high calibre acting skills. She was crying in anguish because she had just learnt that her beloved husband was having an affair with her own younger sister.

Bipasha's histrionic skills were so well developed that she could give a realistic touch to her role. When asked whether she was really ill, a smiling Bipasha said, "In the play, of course!" Make-up artiste Jahangir deserves appreciation for his artistic effort.

Having gone through the story time and again, Bipasha is determined to portray her character exactly the way Tagore created it--right down to the dress. She is draped in a bright handloom saree, a rose-red blouse with lace trimmings and designer ornaments. "In this TV play I have done the same spadework as I generally do for all plays. However, this is definitely a distinct story with strong emphasis on the psychological sufferings of a girl who misunderstood her near and dear ones," she says.

The same applies for the other prominent cast members: Mahfuz Ahmed as her husband Shashanka and Tarin, who plays her sister, Urmila. Clad in a Jamdani saree, Tarin is easy on the eye. In a reserved but confident voice Tarin says, "The women characters of Tagore's works have always attracted me because they are very tempting for any actress. Moreover, the script is not adapted; it is a direct portrayal of Tagore's novel."

Mahfuz Ahmed joined Dui Bon's unit on the very first day of shooting, just after his return to the country from overseas. He was so excited to act in the play that he paid no heed to his jet lag. "There are very few characters I enjoy playing. You could call Shashanka's character my dream role. More precisely, any character created by Rabindranath Tagore is my dream role," he says.

The main concept of the set design and make-up is by the director herself. Uttam Guha designed the final set. Under the banner of Ananya Shrishri, Arun Chowdhury has penned the script of the play. Alam Ara Minu lends her voice to the theme songs composed by Farid Ahmed.

All the members of the unit, including debutante Imon, who is playing Nirod, are very optimistic about the play. Among others Sajjad Mahmud, Ahsanul Minu and Tauhid Antu are also playing different roles.

The play will be aired on ntv on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore's death anniversary.