Sattriya Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy from Assam, India, staged ‘Chandalika’, one of Tagore’s most popular dance dramas, in Assamese, depicting humanity beyond the barriers of race, religion and caste.
Dhaka audience had the opportunity of watching this experimental production on Monday, on the occasion of the151st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre organised the programme at the main auditorium of the National Museum, to open the door of mutual cultural exchange between India and Bangladesh.
The drama is centred on the characters Ananda (bliss), Prakriti (nature) and her mother. Rhythm is an important part of this drama and the inclusion of live music has a superb effect on the production. Almost 16 artistes on stage and 18 musicians in the background were involved in presenting this 1 hour 20 minutes dance drama. Translating the production into Assamese was also a challenge. However, the experiment could have been better in terms of the attitudes of the protagonists on stage.
Jatin Goswami choreographed the drama while Bibhuranjan Chowdhury directed the music. The entire production is the brainchild of Dulal Roy. Anita Sharma, Padmolochana Konwar and Pabrita Bhagawati played the lead roles.
It was a new experience for Dhaka audience to watch Tagore’s fictional work in Assamese.
-With New Age input
