Theatre audience to experience Liberation War onstage

Youth of the present generation, who couldn’t experience the reality of Liberation War in 1971 and the aged people, who always try to get back the spirit of the war.

can easily go back to those days and stir up them once again by witnessing the glorious fight back of the country’s valiant freedom fighter against the foes as a 12-day theatre festival themed on Liberation War is now running in full-swing in the capital.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the festival on Monday evening as the chief guest, while Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad was in the chair.

Among others, the inaugural ceremony was attended by state minister for cultural affairs ministry Advocate Promod Mankin, Secretary of the Ministry Suraiya Begum, World President of International Theatre Institute (ITI) Ramendu Mazumdar and the Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) Liaquat Ali Lucky.

BSA, in association with Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation, has organised the festival titled “Muktijuddher Jatiya Natyautsab”. The festival will let the audiences know about many heroic sons who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of their motherland and thus the Liberation War history of almost all the districts will be presented before the audiences.
As a part of the Academy’s year-long programme “Swadhinatar 40 Bochhor O Shilper Aloy Mohan Muktijuddha” the festival has been organised with an attempt to stimulate the city residents with the spirit of Liberation War.

The festival features over 100 theatre productions based on the Liberation War, of which 74 are new productions. Among the new productions, 64 will be staged by a college troupe from each of the districts and 10 will be performed by 10 Zilla Shilpakala Academy units.

Several well-acclaimed productions on Liberation War will also be staged by the country’s renowned theatre troupes while dance drama, jatra, mime, poetry recitation on the war by several district level troupes will also be performed to entertain the audiences.

The inaugural day of the festival was marked by the showcasing of nine plays ‘Mujib Mane Mukti’ and ‘Jyotisanghita’ at National Theatre Hall, ‘Circus Circus’ at Experimental Theatre Hall, ‘Muktijuddha O Ekjon Dhirendranath’, ‘Chhoy-e December’ and ‘Rakhal Rajar Swpno’ at Studio Theatre Hall; ‘Beerpala’, ‘Muktir Protibhash’ and ‘Bijoyer Prante’ at National Music and Dance Centre Auditorium of the academy.

Scripted and directed by Liaquat Ali lucky, Loko Natyadal’s highly-praised production ‘Majuib Mane Mukti’ depicts the heroic life and works of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Later, Habiganj Shilpakala Academy staged its production ‘Jyotisonghita’ at the same venue. Scripted by Ruma Modak and directed by Sudip Chakroborthy, ‘Jyotisonghita’ depicts Jagat Jyoti Das, a valiant freedom fighter of southern part of Bengal who sacrificed his life during the Liberation War.

Today is the third day of the festival and it will feature showcasing of seven plays ‘Ghum Nei’ by Mohakal Natyasampraday, ‘Nijh Bhume Porobashi’ by Jhalokathi Govt College, ‘Fagun Sheshe’ by Natyatirtha, ‘Aale Huu Dishmole Shwadhinkada’ by Thakurgaon Govt College, ‘Muktir Palagaan’ by Netrokona Govt College, ‘Surjodoy’ by Kushtia Govt University College and ‘Salahuddin-er Pala’ by Jessore College.