Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Sitar Agni-porikkha enthrals the audience

The opening show of the play ‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’ was presented at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city on Friday.
The monodrama ‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’ was written by Saymon Zakaria and was directed by Abdul Halim Pramanik Shomrat.
‘Ramayana’ by Valmiki is the most popular epic in the Indian subcontinent. It was composed in about 400 BC. It tells the story of Rama whose wife Sita is abducted by the king of Lanka, the demon Ravana and Sita is the female protagonist in the epic.
The play ‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’ commences with the plight of Sita in the woods of Lanka. Sita, at Lanka, is kept in the heavy guard of rakshasis. Ravana asks Sita to marry him, but Sita who was forever devoted to Rama, declines. As a result, the demon king keeps trying to allure her but fails. Eventually he is defeated and killed by Rama in the fierce war of Lanka and Sita is saved. But Rama disagrees to take Sita back as his wife because he believes that she must have lost her chastity due to Ravana. Sita, the devoted wife then wants to face a fire ordeal.
‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’, the new interpretation of an epic narrative not just questions the validity of Sita’s need to pass a fire-ordeal to prove her chastity, but also shows how women, through the ages on this earth, face ordeal after ordeal in a male-dominated society.
The monodrama was performed by a noted Delhi-based theatre artiste Averee Chaurey, who has worked with the leading theatre houses in India like Bohurupee and Naya Theatre of Habib Tanvir.
In the presentation she was supported by a chorus of young and talented artistes from Bangladesh. They were Monir Ahmed Shakil, Jahedul Kabir Liton, Taskin Binte Siddiqi Sumi and Shampa Rani Bala.
The style of presentation of the play followed the characteristics of indigenous ‘Kushan Gaan’ of Kurrigram, Bangladesh which depicted the Ramayana in a vibrant form using folk songs and dances.
Jahedul Kabir Liton has composed music while Ali Ahmed Mukul and Reza Shariar has designed the set and lighting respectively.
Averee Chaurey showed her brilliant performance in the premiere and delighted the audience. The hall was packed at the maiden show of the play. Many theatre and cultural activists were also present there.
Eminent theatre and TV artiste Aly Zaker greeted Averee and the other artistes of ‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’ with bouquets of flowers at the end of the play. He congratulated Averee for her excellent performance and also praised the music composition. He welcomed Lubna Marium, general secretary of Shadhona for producing a play for the first time apart from their normal production of dance and music. President of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) Ramendu Majumder also spoke and congratulated every performer for this wonderful production.
‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’ is the seventh production of Shadhona. Shadhona – A Center for Advancement of South Asian Music and Dance jointly produced the play with the Indo-Bangla Cultural Initiative. The organisers wish that ‘Sitar Agni-porikkha’ will be staged in different states of India and also in New York, London and in many other cities across the world as well.

Courtesy of NewAgebd

Related News

Jatra Utsab kicks off at Suhrawardy Udyan

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com A seven-day Jatra Utsab, organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, began on Friday on the the Mukta Mancha stage of the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka. The academy aimed to revive cultural practices at all social layers after the student-led July mass-uprising. The festival features seven historical and social story-based Jatra, the popular ... Read more

Kalim Sharafi’s death anniv today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 14th anniversary of the death of Independence Award-winning cultural activist-Tagore exponent Kalim Sharafi. Born on May 8, 1924 in Birbhum of West Bengal, British India to Syed Sami Ahmed and Begum Aliya, Kalim Sharafi developed a passion for music at an early age. He recorded 18 albums, 15 ... Read more

Scholastica students stage Walt Disney’s ‘Tangled’ at Uttara campus

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com The students of Drama, Music and Dance clubs of Scholastica senior campus in Uttara staged the Walt Disney’s musical adventure comedy play titled Tangled at the STM Hall of the campus on Thursday and Friday. François Grosjean, director of Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, attended the shows as chief guest and enlightened ... Read more

Artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury’s 2nd death anniv today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com oday is the second anniversary of the death of artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury. Born in 1937 in Cumilla, Samarjit Roy graduated in graphic design from the then Government Art Institute, now the faculty of fine art, Dhaka University, in 1960. He joined the Dhaka University and worked for 43 years, and ... Read more

BSA to reopen National Theatre Hall on Friday

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy is scheduled to reopen the National Theatre Hall and its two rehearsal rooms on Friday, said a press release on Monday. The theatre troupe can stage one show in one shift, and they have to give the member lists of troupes involved with productions at the BSA office. ... Read more

Nazrul’s grandson Kazi Anirban passes away

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Kazi Anirban, the grandson of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, passed away on Wednesday (October 3) in Switzerland due to a heart attack. He was the eldest son of Kazi Aniruddha, the rebel poet’s youngest child. Nazrul Sangeet artiste Khilkhil Kazi, daughter of Nazrul’s eldest son Kazi Sabyasachi, confirmed the news ... Read more

Nazrul’s 125th birth anniversary today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 125th birth anniversary of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The birth anniversary of Nazrul, widely known as the rebel poet, is observed in Bangladesh on Jyaishtha 11, according to the Bangla calendar. Nazrul, a poet, lyricist, composer, playwright, novelist, revolutionary and journalist, sang equally for freedom and love. ... Read more

Mrinal Sen’s birth anniversary today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 101st anniversary of the birth of the legendary Bengali filmmaker Mrinal Sen. Born on May 14, 1923 in Faridpur, Mrinal Sen moved to Kolkata to study and became involved in left-wing politics, cultural activities, and film production. One of the most politically active filmmakers, he, after having studied ... Read more

Zainul Abedin’s 109th birth anniv today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 109th anniversary of the birth of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin. On the occasion, different organisations and admirers will pay tribute to Zainul Abedin placing floral wreaths on his grave on the Dhaka University premises in the morning. Zainul is best known for his sketches of the Bengal famine of ... Read more

Manik Bandopadhyay’s death anniversary today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 67th anniversary of the death of Bengali novelist and short story writer Manik Bandopadhyay. Born on May 19, 1908 to Harikar Bandopadhyay and Niroda Devi in Dumka, a small town in Santal Parganas district in the state of Bihar, British India, Manik Bandopadhyay was the fifth of the ... Read more

Qayyum Chowdhury ’s death anniversary today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the ninth anniversary of the death of acclaimed artist Qayyum Chowdhury. Born on March 9, 1932 in Feni, Qayyum Chowdhury’s works delve deep into folk, rustic life and traditions. Fish, flowers, women, birds and greenery are recurring objects on his canvas. He graduated from the Government Institute of Arts ... Read more

Festival honoring cultural diversity called “Sadhu Mela.”

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organize “Sadhu Mela” on November 28 in a colorful demonstration of cultural diversity carrying on the custom that dates back to 2019. Taking place on the day of Fakir Lalon Shai’s Disappearance Day on every full moon, the event has become a noteworthy regular event in the ... Read more

‘Quarantine’ exhibition by artist Mahbubur Rahman begins today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com The opening ceremony of the exhibition comprising multi-dimensional artworks of artist Mahbubur Rahman will be held today at 5 pm. The exhibit titled, “Quarantine”, has been organised at the Kamrul Hasan Exhibition (level 1) of Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi. Professor Bulbul Osman, women and human rights activist Khushi Kabir and artist ... Read more

SM Sultan’s 29th death anniversary today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 29th anniversary of the death of renowned artist SM Sultan. Different organisations, including Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, SM Sultan Foundation and Narail district administration will pay tribute to SM Sultan organising daylong programmes at different venues in Narail’s Sultan Smriti Sangrahasala, Shishu Swarga and Zila Shilpakala Academy. Born on ... Read more

‘Tasher Desh’ staged at Scholastica school

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com With immense zeal and fervour, Scholastica Senior Campus, Mirpur staged the splendid play ‘Tasher Desh’, a masterpiece by the revered poet Rabindranath Tagore. The school’s STM hall served as the majestic environment for this two-day annual drama festival, culminating on a Friday. The talented students, members of the esteemed drama, music, ... Read more

Poet Asad Chowdhury passes away

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Noted poet Asad Chowdhury died of old-age complications while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Toronto, Canada on Thursday. He was 80. The poet ‘died at 3:03am Canada time’ and ‘at 1:03pm Bangladesh time’, the poet’s son-in-law Nadim Iqbal posted on facebook Thursday afternoon. The poet died at the Lakeridge Health ... Read more

Shilpakala inaugurates nationwide puppet festival

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com A twelve day long puppetry festival titled “Gonojagoron er Putul Natya Utshob” inaugurated on Friday. Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has organised the nationwide festival . According to BSA, puppetry is one of the most effective means of folk education. Through its presentation and stylistic approach over the ages, puppetry has played a ... Read more

SD Burman’s birth anniversary today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the 117th anniversary of the birth of legendary singer and music director Sachin Dev Burman. SD Burman, born in 1906 in Cumilla, composed playbacks for over 100 films. Leading singers of the Indian subcontinent like Lata Mangeskhar, Mohammad Rafi, Geeta Dutta, Manna Dey, Asha Bosle, Mukesh and Talat Mahmud ... Read more

Shilpakala Academy organizes exhibition of artist Ismail Chowdhury’s artwork

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy organized a solo painting exhibition of painter Ismail Chowdhury. Painter Ismail Chowdhury has participated in more than half a hundred solo and joint exhibitions in various countries including Bangladesh, Japan, USA, Italy, Nepal, and Bhutan, reads a press release. The elite and talented artists of the country have ... Read more

Feroza Begum’s 9th death anniv today

Cultural Desk : dhakamirror.com Today is the ninth anniversary of the death of the legendary Nazrul Sangeet singer Feroza Begum. Feroza Begum was born on July 28, 1926 to Khan Bahadur Mohammad Ismail and Begum Kawakabonnessa. Drawn to music at an early age, Feroza Begum started her formal music education under the tutelage of Chitta ... Read more