The four-day theatre festival to celebrate the 61st birth anniversary of 'natyacharya' Selim Al Deen ended at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on August 21. Theatre troupe Swapnodal in association with BSA arranged the festival at the Experimental Theatre Hall, where three troupes staged four Al Deen plays. On the last day, Dhaka Theatre staged Al Deen's visionary work on genocides, “Nimojjon”.
“Nimojjon” is directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff. The play does not follow any conventional structure; neither does it develop any particular storyline. Through narratives, the play presents chronological history of genocides that have taken place around the world, questioning human rationality.
“In 2000, during a regular adda I requested Al Deen to write something that would not be a story but rather a chronology, and he wrote 'Nimojjon',” said Al Deen's friend and director of the play, Nasiruddin Yousuff.
According to Al Deen's play, the history of civilisation and genocides are interwoven: History of genocides prevails in each civilisation. And the repetition of these brutalities has drowned humans from the superior position. It is a paradox. “Nimojjon” also stresses that unless the structure of a state is not designed for the welfare of humanism, genocides will never end.
Asaduzzaman Aman played as the stranger and Sirajul Islam played the Professor -- the main two characters of the play. The cast also included Mostafa Ratan, Tarikul Islam, Roni Hossain, Farzana Afreen Rupa, Samiun Jahan Dola and others.
After the play, noted theatre activist Shimul Yousuf, also the music and costume designer of “Nimojjon”, formally announced the end of the festival.
At the festival, organiser Swapnodal staged two plays, including a new production “Festoon-e Lekha Smriti”. The play is an adaptation of Al Deen's writing that was published in the daily Ajker Kagoj on December 15, 1993. It is a recollection of the Liberation War through three characters. The other play staged by Swapnodal was “Hargoj”. Apart from Swapnodal and Dhaka Theatre, the Department of Drama, BSA also participated in the festival with its production “Putro”.
The festival featured a seminar and a photo exhibition as well. The seminar, titled “Selim Al Deen-er Natok: Muktijuddho O Protibadi Chetonar Kothachitro”, highlighted the late theatre icon's views on the Liberation War and his stand against oppression. Eminent theatre personalities discussed on the topic.
The photo exhibition was held at the lobby of Experimental Theatre Hall, which featured photos of different Al Deen plays staged by theatre troupes.
The festival began on August 18, the 61st birthday of the theatre icon.
Source: thedailystar.net
