Theatre personality Ataur Rahman was felicitated on his 73rd birthday at a programme at the National Theatre Hall of
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Wednesday.
A seven-day theatre festival titled Manchosarothi Ataur Rahman Natto Utsab 2014, featuring the plays directed by the thespian was inaugurated at the programme that is jointly organised by the academy and Manchosarothi Ataur Rahman Karmo Udjapon Parisad.
Asaduzzaman Noor, noted actor and cultural minister, was present at the programme as chief guest. Ramendu Majumdar, theatre personality and worldwide president of International Theatre Institute; Syed Shamsul Haque, noted playwright and poet; Usha Ganguly, theatre personality from Kolkata; theatre personality Enamul Haque and Lucky Enam; human rights activist Sultana Kamal and others also attended the programme.
The speakers talked about the contributions of Ataur Rahman in the theatre arena of the country. They also wished Rahman a long life so that he can present more amazing works. The guests also cut a birthday cake to celebrate his birthday.
Ataur Rahman, in his speech, thanked all his colleagues, friends and well-wishers for their continuous support throughout his career as a theatre activist.
The discussion session was followed by staging of Rabindranath Tagore’s Raktakarabi by Nagorik Natya Sampradaya. The play symbolically portrays the vices of capitalism and totalitarianism through a fictitious tale of an imaginary state where the citizens behave like machines as the tyrant king of the state has transformed the town into a ‘fort’.
The materialistic life of the ‘barren land’ in the play changes as the beautiful maid Nandini, who symbolises life, arrives in the town to ‘rescue humanity’ trapped in tyranny.
The other plays that will be staged during the festival are: Rudra Rabi o Jaliwanabag, Banglar Mati Banglar Jal, Godor Protikkhay, Opekkhaman and Narigan. On the closing day of the festival, the thespian will appear on stage with a collage of the roles he played in different productions.
-With New Age input
