Theatre troupe Dristipat Natyadal’s Raja Himadri is a creative take on Sophocles’ classic King Oedipus. In Raja Himadri, the same theme is evident,
but in a different setting.
Khandaker Tazmi Noor, who has adapted and directed the play, has changed the names of characters and locations to give a sub-continental touch to suit the contemporary local audience.The set design gives an impression of a cloudy ambience of an imaginary Himalayan terrain called Pragjotishpur where Himadri has been declared the king in gratitude for freeing the innocent people from the atrocity of the demon Sangramvi.
The queen of the state Indrani, the widow of the former king Chandrashekher, marries the new king.
The director is also innovative in presentation of the demon by employing a huge puppet having radiant eyes.
The most intriguing part, however, is Raja Himadri’s search for the deadly truth of his origin and his ultimate discovery that he had killed his father king Chandrashekhar earlier, married his mother and had children by his mother; which has a theme similar to the original story created by the Greek playwright Sophocles.
So far Dristipat Natyadal has staged the play in Bangladesh and India. The troupe is going to stage the 34th show of the play today at 7pm at National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
-With New Age input
