Mukti and Prakrito Purangona staged on last day
The first ever theatre festival on women issues organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy ended on Saturday with staging of Mukti and Prakrito Purangona. The six-day festival titled Nari Jagoroner Natya Ayojon featured 12 plays on women issues. Women theatre practitioners had significant contributions in these plays as playwrights, directors and actors.
The audience appreciated the initiative taken by Bangladesh Shilpakala for arranging such a festival. But, they also criticized the government organisation for concluding the festival in such a mundane manner.
A moderate audience enjoyed two shows staged at the last day of the festival: Desh Natok staged Prakrito Purangona at the National Theatre Hall and Theatre staged Mukti at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Written and directed by Hafiz Redu and Shamsul Alam Bokul respectively, Prakrito Purangona refutes the ancient philosopher Aristotle’s evaluation on women as ‘an incomplete or mutilated man’ in the chapter 12 of his famous book Politics, which is still believed in the patriarchal society.
Through the lifelong struggle of a downtrodden girl named Rupai, the play rather portrays women equally competent as men. ‘We have challenged the interpretations towards women in the patriarchal society. Through the artistic expressions we have presented the fact that women can contribute for the society as men do’, playwright Hafiz Redu told New Age.
The play directed by Shamsul Alam Bakul, however, appeared difficult to interpret by many viewers.
‘The story of the play is a complicate one, but the actors’ powerful performance made it enjoyable’, observed Tazmi Nur, a theatre activist.
‘I enjoyed the show, though the play is a heavy staff,’ another audience Mujahid hasan said.
It was the 23rd show of Desh Natok’s 18th production Prakrito Purangona
Theatre, on the other hand, staged the 44th show of its 37th production Mukti at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Mukti, an adaptation of famous American playwright Lee Blessing’s drama Independence, centers on a mother and her three daughters, who expect and search for independence, but, in reality they look for someone to depend on.
Adapted by Mijarul Kayes and directed by Tropa Majumdar the play explores the complexities of female psyche and relations. ‘The play is a delicate exploration of human psyche in general and female psyche in particular’, director Tropa Majumdar told New Age.
‘I enjoyed the performances by seasoned actor Ferdousi Majumdar in the role of the mother and Tanveen Sweety’s acting in the character of a daughter, said Suman Rahman, an audience.
-With New Age input
