68TH BIRTH ANNIV OF NATYACHARYA SELIM AL DEEN

Two theatre festivals at Shilpakala

Marking the 68th birth anniversary of Natyacharya Selim Al Deen today, theatre troupes Dhaka Theatre and Swapnadal are holding two separate festivals on the premises of the Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy (BSA) in the capital’s Segun Bagicha area. The celebration will begin today by placing floral wreaths on the playwright’s grave yard at Jahangirnagar University at 9am by the artistes of Dhaka Theatre and Swapnadal.

Dhaka Theatre, in association with Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Selim Al Deen Foundation, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, has organised a six-day festival, while Swapnadal has organised a three-day festival at BSA. Both the festivals are set to begin today.  

A seminar will be held on Selim Al Deen’s ‘Shakuntala’ at 3:30pm at BSA today. Dhaka Theatre’s festival will be inaugurated formally tomorrow by vice chancellor of Jahangir Nagar University Farzana Islam, but the organisers, fans and followers of Selim Al Deen will travel to Jahangirnagar University in the morning today to hold a rally and place wreaths at his grave on his birthday.

Noted theatre personality Aly Zaker will be awarded with this year’s ‘Selim Al Deen Padak’ during the inaugural ceremony tomorrow.

Later on, Dhaka Theatre will stage Selim Al Deen’s play ‘Dhaboman’ at 7:30 pm at the National Theatre Hall of BSA. Written by Selim Al Deen, the play ‘Dhaboman’ is directed by Shimul Yousuf.

On the third day of the festival, on August 20, Kishoreganj-based troupe Bongolok will stage ‘Rupchand Sundari Pala’at the studio Theatre Hall of BSA, while Dhaka Theatre will stage Selim Al Deen’s play ‘Nimajjan’ directed by Nasiruddin Yusuf on August 21 at the Main Hall of BSA.

On the fifth day, Drama and Dramatics Department of Jahangirnagar University will stage Selim Al Deen’s ‘Swapno Romonigon’, while Mohakal’s ‘Neelakhyan’ will be brought on the stage on the closing day of the festival.

On the other hand, with the slogan ‘Rabindranath-Selim Al Deen Roy Oitijyer Dharay, Bangla Natyer Joy Jatra Kobhu Na Haray’, Swapnadal is also holding the three-day ‘Natyacharya Selim Al Deen Birth Anniversary Festival 2017’ to celebrate the birth anniversary of the theatre legend.

Theatre personality Dr Afsar Ahmed will inaugurate Swapnadal’s festival today at the Studio Theatre Hall, while theatre personality Akhtaruzzaman will be present as special guest.

After the inauguration, Swapnadal will stage their play ‘Chitrangada’ at 7pm at the same venue.

‘Chitrangada’ is the 11th production of Swapnadal, written by Nobel Laureate Poet Rabindranath Tagore and directed by Zahid Repon.

To note, born on August 18, 1949 in Feni, Selim Al-Deen, known as ‘Natyacharya’, joined Jahangirnagar University in 1974 as a faculty in Bangla Department and later on, became the founder chairperson of the Department of Drama and Dramatics of the University.

‘Shop Bishoyok Golpo’ (Story about Snakes), his first play in the theatre, was staged in 1972. Dhaka Theatre was founded by him in 1973. Dhaka Theatre, the leading theatre group of the country plays a pivotal role towards progressive drama movement and has staged almost all of Selim Al –Deen’s plays. His plays like Kittonkhola, Bashon, Atotai, Saifulmulk Badiuzzaman, Keramat Mangal, Haat Hodai, Chaka, Joiboti Koinnar Mon, Hargaj, Muntaserer Fantasy, Nimojjan and others enhanced the quality of the local theatre. He passed away on January 14, 2008.

68TH BIRTH ANNIV OF NATYACHARYA SELIM AL DEEN

Two theatre festivals at Shilpakala

Marking the 68th birth anniversary of Natyacharya Selim Al Deen today, theatre troupes Dhaka Theatre and Swapnadal are holding two separate festivals on the premises of the Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy (BSA) in the capitals Segun Bagicha area. The celebration will begin today by placing floral wreaths on the playwrights grave yard at Jahangirnagar University at 9am by the artistes of Dhaka Theatre and Swapnadal. Dhaka Theatre, in association with Bangladesh Gram Theatre, Selim Al Deen Foundation, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, has organised a six-day festival, while Swapnadal has organised a three-day festival at BSA. Both the festivals are set to begin today. A seminar will be held on Selim Al Deens Shakuntala at 3:30pm at BSA today. Dhaka Theatres festival will be inaugurated formally tomorrow by vice chancellor of Jahangir Nagar University Farzana Islam, but the organisers, fans and followers of Selim Al Deen will travel to Jahangirnagar University in the morning today to hold a rally and place wreaths at his grave on his birthday. Noted theatre personality Aly Zaker will be awarded with this years Selim Al Deen Padak during the inaugural ceremony tomorrow. Later on, Dhaka Theatre will stage Selim Al Deens play Dhaboman at 7:30 pm at the National Theatre Hall of BSA. Written by Selim Al Deen, the play Dhaboman is directed by Shimul Yousuf. On the third day of the festival, on August 20, Kishoreganj-based troupe Bongolok will stage Rupchand Sundari Palaat the studio Theatre Hall of BSA, while Dhaka Theatre will stage Selim Al Deens play Nimajjan directed by Nasiruddin Yusuf on August 21 at the Main Hall of BSA. On the fifth day, Drama and Dramatics Department of Jahangirnagar University will stage Selim Al Deens Swapno Romonigon, while Mohakals Neelakhyan will be brought on the stage on the closing day of the festival. On the other hand, with the slogan Rabindranath-Selim Al Deen Roy Oitijyer Dharay, Bangla Natyer Joy Jatra Kobhu Na Haray, Swapnadal is also holding the three-day Natyacharya Selim Al Deen Birth Anniversary Festival 2017 to celebrate the birth anniversary of the theatre legend. Theatre personality Dr Afsar Ahmed will inaugurate Swapnadals festival today at the Studio Theatre Hall, while theatre personality Akhtaruzzaman will be present as special guest. After the inauguration, Swapnadal will stage their play Chitrangada at 7pm at the same venue. Chitrangada is the 11th production of Swapnadal, written by Nobel Laureate Poet Rabindranath Tagore and directed by Zahid Repon. To note, born on August 18, 1949 in Feni, Selim Al-Deen, known as Natyacharya, joined Jahangirnagar University in 1974 as a faculty in Bangla Department and later on, became the founder chairperson of the Department of Drama and Dramatics of the University. Shop Bishoyok Golpo (Story about Snakes), his first play in the theatre, was staged in 1972. Dhaka Theatre was founded by him in 1973. Dhaka Theatre, the leading theatre group of the country plays a pivotal role towards progressive drama movement and has staged almost all of Selim Al Deens plays. His plays like Kittonkhola, Bashon, Atotai, Saifulmulk Badiuzzaman, Keramat Mangal, Haat Hodai, Chaka, Joiboti Koinnar Mon, Hargaj, Muntaserer Fantasy, Nimojjan and others enhanced the quality of the local theatre. He passed away on January 14, 2008.