�Gahar Badshah O Banesa Poree� to be staged at Mohila Samity today

Festival

Popular theatre troupe Nagorik Natyangan will stage its new production titled ‘Gahar Badshah O Banesa Poree’ at the Mohila Samity Mancha today, as a part of month-long theatre festival titled ‘Bhanga-Gora Natya Utsab’. Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs, has organised the festival at the Dr Nilima Ibrahim auditorium – popularly known as Mahila Samity Mancha with the slogan ‘Manche Natok Dekhun, Oitihasik Mohila Samity Manche Asun’. The play ‘Gahar Badshah O Banesa Poree’based on a folk story, is the 20th production of the troupe, and through the play, actress Hridi Haque made her debut as a director. The story of the play revolves around the Bishingsha Badshah, who ventures into the forest named Gilamight for hunting. After scouting the entire forest for game and to no avail, the Badshah begins blaming his fate. At one point, he sees a deer by a nearby stream and shoots his arrow. After he hears the shattering cry of a human voice, to his horror he realizes that a grave mistake has been committed. At the loss of her son because of the Badshah’s arrow, the utterly devastated mother puts a curse on the Badshah.  
After the tragic incident, the Badshah is blessed with two baby boys, who were named Gahar and Sanatan. Fearing that he has been cursed upon, the Badshah was scared of losing his sons. Hence he constructed a building, where sunlight even cannot reach.
When the time comes, the Badshah hands over his kingdom to his son Gahar. At the age of 12, influenced by Ujir (Minister), Gahar goes hunting in Gilamight forest, where besides animals, terrible giants and even fairies exist.
After going to the forest, Gahar is captured by an evil giant. With the help of his father’s friend, he narrowly escapes death. Then he falls in love with a fairy named Banesa Poree. After many valiant struggles and battles, Gahar then decides to return to his state with Banesa Poree. However, through all these incidents, many years have passed. When he does return to his kingdom, he finds out that it has been seized by Ujir.
However, good prevails over evil. Applying his merit, intellect and wits and as well as with the help of Banesa Poree and his first wife Kalabati, Gahar recovers his kingdom.
To make the play more interesting to the audience, it features all the characters of folk stories like Raja-Badshah (King), Ujir (Minister), Danob (Giant), Poree (Fairy), hunting scenes in the mystical forest, folk songs etc. The role of Gahar has been played by two youngsters named Asib Chowdhury and Jewel Johur, while director of the play Hridi Haque played the role of Banesa Poree.
To note, Mahila Samity Mancha was opened in 1973 with a show of Nagarik Natya Sampraday’s play ‘Baki Itihas’. In order to build a new building with modern facilities and an audience-friendly seating arrangement, the auditorium has been dismantled in 2011.

Where: Mohila Samity,Natok Sharani,Baily road
When: 6pm, today

�Gahar Badshah O Banesa Poree� to be staged at Mohila Samity today

Festival

Popular theatre troupe Nagorik Natyangan will stage its new production titled Gahar Badshah O Banesa Poree at the Mohila Samity Mancha today, as a part of month-long theatre festival titled Bhanga-Gora Natya Utsab. Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, in association with Ministry of Cultural Affairs, has organised the festival at the Dr Nilima Ibrahim auditorium popularly known as Mahila Samity Mancha with the slogan Manche Natok Dekhun, Oitihasik Mohila Samity Manche Asun. The play Gahar Badshah O Banesa Poreebased on a folk story, is the 20th production of the troupe, and through the play, actress Hridi Haque made her debut as a director. The story of the play revolves around the Bishingsha Badshah, who ventures into the forest named Gilamight for hunting. After scouting the entire forest for game and to no avail, the Badshah begins blaming his fate. At one point, he sees a deer by a nearby stream and shoots his arrow. After he hears the shattering cry of a human voice, to his horror he realizes that a grave mistake has been committed. At the loss of her son because of the Badshahs arrow, the utterly devastated mother puts a curse on the Badshah. After the tragic incident, the Badshah is blessed with two baby boys, who were named Gahar and Sanatan. Fearing that he has been cursed upon, the Badshah was scared of losing his sons. Hence he constructed a building, where sunlight even cannot reach. When the time comes, the Badshah hands over his kingdom to his son Gahar. At the age of 12, influenced by Ujir (Minister), Gahar goes hunting in Gilamight forest, where besides animals, terrible giants and even fairies exist. After going to the forest, Gahar is captured by an evil giant. With the help of his fathers friend, he narrowly escapes death. Then he falls in love with a fairy named Banesa Poree. After many valiant struggles and battles, Gahar then decides to return to his state with Banesa Poree. However, through all these incidents, many years have passed. When he does return to his kingdom, he finds out that it has been seized by Ujir. However, good prevails over evil. Applying his merit, intellect and wits and as well as with the help of Banesa Poree and his first wife Kalabati, Gahar recovers his kingdom. To make the play more interesting to the audience, it features all the characters of folk stories like Raja-Badshah (King), Ujir (Minister), Danob (Giant), Poree (Fairy), hunting scenes in the mystical forest, folk songs etc. The role of Gahar has been played by two youngsters named Asib Chowdhury and Jewel Johur, while director of the play Hridi Haque played the role of Banesa Poree. To note, Mahila Samity Mancha was opened in 1973 with a show of Nagarik Natya Sampradays play Baki Itihas. In order to build a new building with modern facilities and an audience-friendly seating arrangement, the auditorium has been dismantled in 2011. Where: Mohila Samity,Natok Sharani,Baily road When: 6pm, today