�RANGAMATAN SOLAIMAN MELA 2015�
Theatre Art Unit to stage �Court Martial� today
DL reporter
Popular theatre troupe Prachyanat has organised a daylong event titled Rangamatan Solaiman Mela 2015which is the 4th edition of its kindsin memory of iconic theatre personality SM Solaiman today at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in the city. A total of eight local vibrant theatre troupes-- Aranyak Natyadal, Udichi, Theatre Art Unit, BatTola, Mahakal Natya Sampraday, Teerandaz Repertory and Batighorare participating in the event.
The programme is scheduled to begin today at 10 am with the very own performance by eight troupes. An open discussion meeting titled Chokh Buje Thakun: Baire Pralay Ghotchhe will be held at 2:30pm, where noted economist Anu Muhammad will attend as main discussant.
After the discussion session, participating troupes will bring their productions to the stage again from 5pm to 6pm, while they will present a joint production titled Ei Deshe Ei Beshe at 6pm. On the other hand, Theatre Art Unit will stage the SM Solaiman-directed play Court Martial at 7pm the National Theatre Main Hall of BSA. The daylong event will be concluded with a group dance performance titled Agni Chakra, which is scheduled to take place from 9pm to 9:30pm.
Adapted from the Marathi playwright Swadesh Dipaks play with the same title, Court Martial is translated by Salil Sarkar. Transcreated and directed by SM Solaiman, Mohammad Bari oversees the directorial aspects of the play now.
The play depicts the fact that man cannot hold back the inherent jealousy and cruelty through staging an imaginary court martial.
The play confronts the audience with a question: is it possible for human beings to avoid inherent jealousy or cruelty? In Court Martial, the playwright has tried to find out the truth from the most disciplined institution of a nation, the army.
The play is based on a sensitive issue; the dilemmas of the offspring of the Biranganas (War heroines) and the assimilation of the children of the Pakistani collaborators into the society after the Liberation War.
To note, born to Ahmed Mia and Asia Khatun in Digboi of Assam, India on September 29 in 1953, Sheikh Mohammad Solaiman added a new dimension to the post-Liberation War neo theatre movement through his brilliant use of music and choreography as an actor, director, organiser, playwright, and musician. He wrote and directed more than 30 plays, including Khyapa Paglar Panchal, Election Caricature, Inspector General, Inggit, Gani Mia Ekdin and Swapno Dyakho Manush.
In his short span of life, he received many prestigious awards like the Rangpur Padatik Award, Bangladesh Association of Florida Award, Bangladesh Cholochchitra Sangbadik Samity Puruskar, Bangladesh Association of Loss Angels Award, Subachan Natyasangsad Award and Theatre Art Unit Award. He breathed his last on September 22 in 2001 at the age of 48.
Theatrewala, a little magazine on theatre arranged the first and second phase of Rangamatan Solaiman Mela in 2007 and 2008. Then, Theatre Art unit arranged the third phase of the event in 2013. This time, the event is being arranged by theatre troupe Prachyanat to observe the 62nd birth and 14th death anniversary of SM Solaiman.
Where: BSA, Segun Bagicha
When: 10 am10 pm, today l
