Pallikobi Jasimuddin’s classic Nakshi Kathar Math was staged by Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts at the Music and Dance Centre of
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Wednesday.
The programme was organised by Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha to celebrate 80th birth anniversary of GA Mannan (1931- 1991), a noted dance artiste, who also composed Nakshi Kathar Math as a dance drama in 1958.
Nakshi Kathar Math directed by GA Mannan has been staged over 500 times in home and abroad by his disciples.
The latest version, directed by Rahiza Khanom Zhunu, is also based on Mannan’s composition. Zhunu played the role of Saju in the premiere show in 1958.
Nakshi Kathar Math (the field of the embroidered quilt) is a tragic verse narrative where Rupai, the protagonist, mourns the death of his wife Saju, who narrated her pains of her lonely days on the Nakshi Kantha [embroidered quilt].
Noted dancers Abdur Rashid Swapan and Farhana Chowdhury Baby respectively enacted the characters of Rupai and Saju. Both of the artistes got good response from the audience.
The audience at the hall was also taken into the story of the play through expressive backdrop orchestra and projected dialogues featuring some happy moments of the conjugal life of the couple recalled by the protagonist.
The beginning of the composition with Rupai’s sudden encounter with Saju’s grave that is shrouded with an embroidered quilt paved the pathetic tone for the ensuing scenes.
Deepa Khandaker, Selina Haque, Abdul Matin, Mahfuz, Jasim, Sumon Rupom and others performed the other characters of the artistically rich production.
The stage for the production was simple. Just a few painted structures had been used to create an ambience of a village.
‘I have changed almost nothing of the original composition premiered in 1958. I just worked on the choreography of a few songs used in the dance drama,’ Rahiza Khanom Zhunu said.
‘I am impressed by the performance. The artistes performed quite well’, commented eminent dancer Munmun Ahmed, an audience of the show.
Another dancer Saju Ahmed said, ‘The dance drama successfully depicts Jasimuddin’s narrative.’
‘The proceedings of the sale of the tickets will be donated to the victims of Rana Plaza ’, said dancer Minu Haque, the president of Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha.
-With New Age input
