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Behular Bhasan resists
the stereotype of woman
Cultural Correspondent
The medieval Bengali literary text Manasamangal repre-sents Behula as an ideal wife whose role it is to save her husband's life even at the expense of her own, because a woman is merely a nonentity without a husband or a father for that matter.
This stereotypical role of women was resisted in the play 'Behular Bhasan' staged by the Dramatics department of Dhaka University at the Dhaka University Teachers-Students Centre March 7 on the occasion of the World Women's Day.
Presented in the popular jatra form known as bhashan, the dance play offered a reinterpretation of the heroic feats of Behula who accompanied her husband, bitten by a snake as a dire consequence of a curse from the goddess Manasa, on a raft from one place to another in order to save him from dying.
Adapted from the medieval poet Bijay Gupta's 'Padmapuran', the play was directed by Professor Syed Zamil Ahmed. As in most of the indigenous art forms, the jatra form of bhasan also made extensive use of a narrator who narrated the story for the most part as the story took different turns.
Behula's journey in the play was divided into seven phases, each phase introducing her to a new face of the male- chauvinistic culture.
Despite all the disappointing confronta-tions with men, Behula nurtured the hope that her husband Laxmindar was a different person altogether, who was worth living with. But when the last phase came, she realised that her husband too was no exception, who raped a woman before their marriage.
Enriched with frequent songs and dance numbers, the play strongly negated the stereotypical role of women that the patriarchal society imposes on them.
Tamanna Haque Sigma played the double role of Behula and the narrator and Nawrin Sazzad played Behula's father-in-law Chandsowdagar. Sadia Afroz, Meherunnesa, Sylvia Nawrin, Nafisa Parvin and Fahmida Sultana, among others, played other roles in the play.
The props of the play included a raised platform with two stair-cases at opposite ends and two long pieces of clothes.
The DU Dramatics department will stage the play at the Minerva Theatre in Kolkata on March 11 and at the
South Asian Woman Theatre Festival in Delhi on March 14.
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Shah Abdul Karim fest ends in Sunamganj
Cultural Correspondent
The two-day Shah Abdul Karim Festival organised by Shah Abdul Karim Committee ended on March 6 at Ujandhol village under the Upazila of Dirai in Sunamganj.
The programme began on Friday with a discussion on the life of Shah Abdul Karim. Local member of the parliament Matiur Rahman, Shah Abdul Karim Festival committee president Mosharraf Hossain and Shah Noor Jalal, son of the baul samrat, among others, addressed the audience at the opening session.
Beginning with the chorus 'Ar kichhu chay na mon gaan chhara' which is also the slogan of the festival, the stage saw the raw performances of the local artistes in the afternoon, who hailed from nearby villages.
As night fell, the crowd began to swell. Before the performances began in the evening, the artistes joined hands to urge the music-lovers all over the country to maintain the accuracy of Shah Abdul Karim's songs. They also insisted that local instruments like dhol, ektara, tabla and violin should be used instead of electrical instruments.
The singers rendered songs like 'Basanta batase, basante batase', 'Age ki sundor din kataitam', 'Bandhu aila na', 'Keno piriti baraila re bandhu', 'Ami phul bandhu phuler bhromora' and 'Amar biroher agune anga pure holo chai'.
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Assamese filmmaker Jahnu
wins Saikia award
Nava Thakuria in Guwahati
When he joined Film & Television Institute of India, Pune his parents had hardly enjoyed a movie. Today Jahnu Barua, though he hails from such a humble family, is recognised as one of the serious and visionary film makers of India.
Starting his career as a film director with Aparoopa (1983), a full length Assamese film, Jahnu has made a number of acclaimed feature films till date. He is the first film-maker from Assam to win India's national best director award for Hkhagoroloi Bohu Dur (1995), whereas his another film Halodhiya Choraye Baodhan Khai (1988) was adjudged the best film in the national film awards ceremony. The coveted award, in fact, came for the first time to Assamese film industry.
Similarly his female lead in Firingoti (1992), Malaya Goswami received the national best actress award, which also came to Assam for first time. His movie Kushal (1998), which is based on the story of an Assamese revolutionary martyr Kushal Konwar, was screened at a special show in Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
Banani (1990), another film by Jahnu, won national award in environment section, whereas Tora (2004) was adjudged the best children's film in the national awards ceremony.
Some other outstanding creations of Jahnu include Papori (1986), Pokhi (1999), Konikar Ramdhenu (2002) and Maine Gandhi Ko Nehi Mara (2005). His latest movie Har Pal is now waiting commercial release. Not to speak of the Indian awards and appreciation, his films received applause from international critics and audience too.
The softspoken gentleman was recently honoured with the first Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia Memorial Award for his contribution to the Assamese film world.
The state's chief minister Tarun Gogoi handed over the award to Jahnu on February 20 at a function held at Rabindra Bhavan. Instituted by Assam Government last year, the award comprises a citation, Rs 1 lakh with some traditional items.
Dr BN Saikia was also a film director, though he was more popular as a story teller in the Assamese society. A Guwahati University professor turned editor of a prestigious magazine Prantik, Dr Saikia also tried his hands successfully in movies as well as in theatre plays.
The chief minister, while addressing the audience of the award giving ceremony, paid heartiest tribute to Dr Saikia and also recalled his immense contributions to the Assamese literature in particular and society as a whole. Terming Dr Saikia as a multi-faceted genius, Gogoi stated that he would remain alive in Assamese literature, theatre and films.
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Oscar at a glance
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz(Inglourious Basterds)
Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique (Precious)
Best Foreign Film: The Secret in Their Eyes (Argentina)
Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker)
Best Animation: Up
Best Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire)
Best Art Direction: Avatar
Best Cinematography: Avatar
Best Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker
Best Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker
Best Original Song: The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart
Best Original Score: Up (Michael Giacchino)
Best Costumes: Young Victoria
Best Documentary Feature: The Cove
Best Documentary Short: Music By Prudence
Best Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Best Make-up: Star Trek
Best Animated Short Film: Logorama
Best Live Action Short Film: Best Live Action Short Film
Best Visual Effects: Avatar
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Sleep and death
S.A.Mansoor
Every day in sleep, we embrace death
Ever so long that we live.
In death however, we embrace sleep
From there on to eternity.
In sleep, often we have dreams,
Revisiting our lives, or fantasy.
But in death, what's there to see?
Sleep and death, both are part of us
One momentary, the other momentous.
Throughout life, we work, sleep and play
Acting out our life. Till death
Rings down the curtain, of a futile play!
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Tagore's Valmiki Pratibha
to be staged today
Cultural Correspondent
Cultural organi-sations Shurolok and Nrityanchal will jointly stage Rabindranath Tagore's Valmiki Pratibha in the form of an opera at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy's National Theatre Hall on March 12 in celebration of the Tagore's 150th birth anniversary.
The programme sponsors, City Bank and American Express Credit Card, told journalists at a press conference at a local hotel on March 8. City Bank managing director and chief executive officer K Mahmood Sattar, Indian-born American choreographer Sukalyan Bhattacharya, noted Tagore singer Chanchal Khan and dancer Shamim Ara Nipa were, among others, present at the press briefing.
The organisers said Rabindranath Tagore had written his first musical drama 'Valmiki Pratibha' at the age of twenty. The drama highlights the transformation of a bandit Ratnakar into Valmiki, the first Indian mythological poet who composed the epic 'Ramayana'.
The drama was first staged in1881 at the Biddawajjan Samagam Sammilani, where Tagore himself played the role of Valmiki. Through it, Tagore, who was influenced by European Opera, explored a wide range of dramatic styles and emotions including usage of revamp 'kirtan', Indian folk and traditional raga based compositions, blended with traditional English and Irish folk melodies, said the organisers.
Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibli Mohammad and their team will perform in the drama. Shamim Ara Nipa will play the role of Saraswati while Shibli Mohammad, Valmiki. Sukalyan Bhattacharya will choreograph Valmiki Pratibha and Chanchal Khan will be in the music direction.
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Bangla Perfume holds fashion show
on 'D&G' night
Bangla Perfume was launched officially at Club Amazon at Gulshan in the city through a dazzling "D&G Night" recently.
A large number of models including Emi, Tumpa, Namira, Chaitty, Jamshed, Shams, Shawn, Ajim Khan and Olik performed the fashion show followed by a DZ show.
Chief executive officer of the Bangla Perfume Khandaker Nazrul Islam gave the welcome speech. Chairman of the company Faridul Hassan Chowdhury, executive director Zakir Hossain, brand manager Kazi Sharifa Jahan was also present on the occasion.
Newly unleashed series is a wardrobe of fine, fragrances with five different colours and highly noticeable aroma. The series includes Le Bateleur, L'lrnperatrice, L'Amoureux, La Roue de la Fortue and La Lune, all come in 100ml.
The company previously promoted world famous brands like Gucci, Burberry, Cartier, Versace, Thierry Mugler, Valentino, Escada, Dunhill, Hugo, Boss, Lacoste, Montblanc, Azzaro, Victorinox Swiss Army, Ferre, Roberto Cavalli, Hermes, United Colors of Benetton, Creed and Lalique showcased at Basundhara City shopping mall (Shop I & 2, Bloc- A, Level-6) and at Navana Tower (1st floor), Gulshan (circle -1).
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