“Madhyambyaog” staged on the first day
The weeklong 5th Annual Dhaka University Theatre Festival began on November 4 at the university’s TSC Auditorium. The Department of Theatre, DU has arranged the festival, featuring four plays by different universities.
On the opening day, “Madhyambyaog” — adaptation of a Sanskrit play — was staged.
Eminent theatre personality and ITI worldwide president Ramendu Majumder formally inaugurated the festival. Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of DU, was the chief guest at the programme.
Teacher of the department and noted TV actress Wahida Mallick Jolly directed “Madhyambyaog”, originally written by Sanskrit playwright Bhasha. It is a narrative of a story from the epic “Mahabharat”.
The play zooms in on a Brahmin family, returning home after attending a festival. The family members lose their way deep into a forest and there they meet Ghatotkach — portrayed in the play as an anarya (belonging to low caste). Ghatotkach is looking for human flesh to offer to his mother Hirimba, a demon. He selects one of the Brahmin’s sons and the young man decides to sacrifice himself to save his family.
On their way to Hirimba, Ghatotkach and the Brahmin’s son come across ‘Madhyam Pandav’ (second of the five Pandav brothers) Bhim. After listening to the story, Bhim offers himself up to Ghatotkach and requests him to release the Brahmin’s son.
Ghatotkach agrees, as he is in a rush. The story reaches its climax when Bhim meets Hirimba. Instead of killing and eating Bhim, Hirimba bows to him. It is revealed that Hirimba was married to Bhim, and Ghatotkach is their son.
Kazi Tamanna Haque, Fahmida Sultana and Champa Talukdar played the lead roles. Most of scenes have been articulated through dance. Warda Rehab and Arpita Shome trained the actors and choreographed the particular scenes. Tapan Kumar Sarkar directed the music.
“Madhyambyaog” will be staged tomorrow as well. The festival also features plays by Jahangirnagar University and Rajshahi University. Another play by Dhaka University, “Shiddhanto”, will be staged on November 7-9.
Everyday the show begins at 6:30 pm.
