Curtain falls on Ganga-Jamuna Festival
Local and Kolkata theatre artistes delight Dhaka audience with their plays
DL Reporter
The curtain came down on the mega 10-day Ganga-Jamuna Theatre and Cultural Festival 2016 (Ganga-Jamuna Natya O Sangskritik Ustab 2016) on Sunday with the staging of three audience-admired productions by two local troupes. After the formal closing ceremony in the evening, Dhaka Theatre staged the play Panchanari Akhyan at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), while Shobdo Natyacharcha Kendra staged two plays Shesh Songlap and Biranganar Boyan at the BSAs Experimental Theatre Hall.
The 10-day festival brought 30 plays to the stage by the prominent theatre troupes of the current time from Bangladesh and Kolkata. Throughout the festival, the Dhaka audiences got a unique opportunity of enjoying all wonderful plays written by the world-class playwright like Shakespeare, Rabindranath Tagore and others. Eminent dramatists like Syed Shamsul Haq and Mamunur Rashid from Bangladesh were also in the list of elite dramatists. Celebrated theatre artistes like Ferdousi Majumder, Keramat Mawla and Debshankar Haldar, who without any doubt belongs to a different level in the theatre arena for their mesmerising acting skills, were the special attractions besides other performers at the festival. The theatre artistes from Bangladesh and Kolkata left the audience spellbound with brilliant performance in almost every play. Even their brilliant performance brought them instant appreciation from the audience during the ongoing play as the audience responded with an ovation after ovation. All these pleasant experiences of the festival made the audience satisfied to the fullest.
This year, the festival was dedicated to late writer-author Syed Shamsul Haq, who passed away in September this year. Written by Syed Shamsul Haq, three playsPayer Awaj Paua Jay, Tora Sob Joyodwani Kor and Macbeth were staged during the festival.
The festival began on October 20. Besides staging three plays every day, the arrangement of cultural programme at the corridor in front of the National Theatre Hall was the everyday routine of the festival during the 10-day event.
On the concluding day of the festival, noted thespian Mamunur Rashid was present as the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Presided over by the convener of the festival organizing committee and president of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote Golam Kuddus, president of Gono Sangeet Samannay Parishad singer Fakir Alamgir and president of Pothonatok Parishad noted thespian Mannan Hira, president of Nritya Shilpi Sangstha artiste Minu Haque and general secretary of Abritti Samannay Parishad Ahkam Ullah were present as special guests at the event. Member secretary of the festival organising committee Aktaruzzaman delivered the vote of thanks at the closing ceremony.
Earlier at noon on the open cultural stage, Satwik Natya Sampraday staged street play, while the rendition of group song was performed by Sur Saptak. In the group recitation, Muktadhara Abritti Charcha Kendra, Sarachitra Abritti Charcha and Bikash Kendra and Shrutighar took part, and dance was performed by Nandanik Nritya Sangathan.
To note, aiming at consolidating the harmony between Bangladesh and India through cultural exchange, Bangladesh Committee of Ganga-Jamuna Natyautsab Parshad organised the 10-day festival in association with Cultural Ministry of Bangladesh, India-Bangladesh Foundation and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. l
