Shunyan Theatre celebrated the 60th show of popular play Lal Jamin through staging the play at the Studio Theatre Hall of
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday.
A book version of the play was also launched at the programme.
Written and directed by Mannan Hira and Sudip Chakroborthy respectively, Lal Jamin depicts a touching account of a young girl’s struggles during the war of independence in Bangladesh. The story begins with the young girl’s carefree days coming to an end when the war breaks out and her father joins the freedom fighters. As a result, she also struggles for freedom but is caught by the invading Pakistani forces, who keeps her captive until the war ends. Noted theatre activist Momena Choudhury, the sole performer of the monodrama, beautifully illustrates the incidents of the war.
Earlier, the book version of the play was launched at a discussion session in presence of the artistes and other members of the troupe.
About the popularity of the play, Momena Chowdhury told to New Age that the play upholds a very emotional subject matter of the war. ‘I believe it is the theme of the play that appeals to audience to watch repeatedly,’ added Chowdhury, who also said that wherever they staged the play, they gained huge response from the audience.
‘I remember a remarkable incident when we staged the play in Sirajgonj. We all cried when a rickshaw puller gifted us his day’s earnings of 75 taka after being fascinated by the play,’ shared the artiste.
The first staging of the play took place last year on May 19, 2011 at the Natmandal of Dhaka University and since then the troupe has already performed the play in many districts on Bangladesh, in India and even in London. And about thirty of the shows were held on invitation.
The music of the play has been jointly directed by Julfikar Chanchal and Ramiz Raju and the songs were sung by Bari Siddique, Ramiz Raju and Nila Saha. Wahida Mallic Jolly is the costume while Sudip Chakroborthy is the set designer of the play.
-With New Age input
