�Ganga-Jamuna Theatre and Cultural Festival 2015�
Soumitra Chattopadhyay enthralls Dhaka audience with �Chhariganga�
DL Desk
Famous Indian film and stage actor Soumitra Chattopadhyay enthralled the Dhaka audience with his fabulous stage-performance through the play titled Chhariganga which was staged at Ganga-Jamuna Theatre and Cultural Festival 2015 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday. In the play Chhariganga, co-written by Amitranjan Biswas, Chattopadhyay enacted the role of an internationally recognised scientist who grows obsessed with alchemy, loses his position abroad and returns to the overgrown mansion in his zamindari village, setting up his laboratory there and experimenting with such drugs as LSD on his own wife. Lost in his world and alone, he appears to talk to figments of his past like his daughter (Bose, the fictional father-daughter relationship becoming theatrically real), who accuses him of slowly killing her mother. Chattopadhyay explores alternative as well as unethical practices in science, but concludes on the family level.
Prior to embarking on the stage, the versatile actor-director inaugurated the fourth edition of the Ganga-Jamuna Theatre and Cultural Festival 2015 along with noted Bangladeshi thespian Ferdousi Mazumder through lighting of earthen lamp (Mongal Pradeep) at the National Theatre Auditorium in BSA that day.
Cultural Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the opening ceremony of the festival as chief guest, while Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pankaj Saran was present as special guest.
Chaired by festival organising committee and cultural personality Golam Quddus, noted thespians Mamunur Rashid, Hasan Arif, Jhuna Chowdhury and director general of BSA Liaquat Ali Lucky were present among others.
Bangladesh Committee of Ganga-Jamuna Natyautsab Parshad, in association with Kolkata-based theatre troupe Aneek, has organised the nine-day long festival, which has been scheduled to conclude on September 12.
On the opening day, besides staging Chhariganga by Indian troupe Sangstab, local troupe Prachyanat also staged Tragedy Palashbari, while the show of second day included Bhutonath by Sangstab and Donddo by Rajshahis Anushilon Natya Dol, staged at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall of BSA respectively.
Today, Chittagongs Uttaradhikar will stage Sampan Naiya at National Hall, while Natyacharcha will stage Informer at Experimental Hall.
A total of 53 groups from both India and Bangladesh are taking part in the festival with theatre, dance, recitation, musical performances and street plays. The show of staging play will begin every day from 7pm.
Tomorrow, Loko Natyadals (Siddeswari) Konjush will be staged at the National Theatre Hall, while Desh Natoks Darpane Sharat Shashi at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
On September 8, Rittks Adi Raja (India) and Aranyaks Bhangabanga will be staged at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall respectively.
On September 9, Indian theatre troupe Aneek will bring Ashokananda on stage at the National Theatre Hall, while local troupe Padatik Natya Sangsad will stage its Poramati at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
On September 10, Padatik Natya Sangsad (TSC) will come up with its play Macbeth at the National Theatre Hall and Theatres Kokilara (Baily Road) will be staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
On the other hand, Nagorik Natya Sampradayas Dewan Gazir Kissa and Prangone Mors Shesher Kabita will be staged at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall respectively on September 11.
On the concluding day of the festival on September 12, Dhaka Theatre will stage Dhabaman at the National Theatre Hall, while Mohakal Natya Sampradaya will bring its play Nilakhkhyan on stage at the Experimental Theatre Hall. l
