68TH BIRTH ANNIV OF NATYACHARYA SELIM AL DEEN
Selim Al Deens Nimojjon on Shilpakala stage today
festival
DL desk
As a part of the ongoing theatre festival titled Selim Al Deen Utsab to mark the 68th birth anniversary of Natyacharya Selim Al Deen, Dhaka Theatre will stage a special show of Selim Al Deens much-acclaimed play Nimojjon today evening at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital.
The six-day festival has been jointly organised by Dhaka Theatre and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in association with Selim Al Deen Foundation and Bangladesh Gram Theatre.
The play Nimojjon, an epic journey into the history of genocide, is written by Selim Al Deen and directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff.
Nimojjon does not develop any particular storyline. It presents a chronological look at genocides around the globe through narratives. The play starts with a stranger, who makes a visit to an imaginary state after receiving an invitation from his friend. During his journey he passes across lands where he observes only genocide.
Nimojjon significantly highlights that the history of civilisation and genocide is interwoven-- every civilisation has had a history of genocide. And the repetition of these brutal incidents has brought human beings down from their pedestal. It is a paradox.
Al Deen does not want to identify Nimojjon with any particular genre, though he considers the play as a strong articulation of his philosophical thoughts known as Daitadaitobadi. He finalised the theme of the play during a visit to Chandpur. He faced a sudden norwester that set him thinking about drowning and subsequently gave him the ultimate idea about the presentation of Nimojjon or drowning.
Yesterday, on the third day of the festival, Kishoreganj-based troupe Bongolok staged Rupchand Sundari Pala at the studio Theatre Hall of BSA and Kushtia-based troupe Bodhon Theatre staged Chandrabati Kotha at the BSAs National Theatre Hall.
Dhaka Theatres Selim Al Deen Utsab will be continued till August 23. l
Photo l courtesy
