Paying tribute to the noted playwright, actor and director Syed Mohidul Islam on his 17th death anniversary, a five-day theatre festival titled ‘Syed Mohidul Islam Smaran Utsab 2019’ (Syed Mohidul Islam Memorial Festival) began yesterday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) in Segun Bagicha of the capital.
Organised by Batikrom Natya Gosthi, the inaugural ceremony of the theatre festival was held at BSA premises, while ‘Draupadi Parampara’ by Theatre (Arambag) was staged as an inaugural play.
Written and directed by Prabir Dutta, the play depicts Draupadi’s sufferings in patriarchal society by showing her humiliation at the hands of the Kauravas after she was put on bet at a dice-game by Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava.
In the play Tahmina Akter, Akifa Alam and Yusha Antara will play the role of Draupadi. The other important casts of the play includes Prabir Datta, Shahriar Alam, Shangkar Sarkar, Jahangir Kabir and Lelin Firozi.
As a part of the festival, the troupe conferred ‘Syed Mohidul Islam Padak’. This year, renowned thespian Asaduzzaman Noor was honoured with the award. Besides, five couples, who are the stage performers, were also be awarded.
During the five-day festival, a number of five theatre troupe from home and abroad will stage their productions.
To note, Syed Mohidul Islam was born in 1946 in Bagerhat district. He founded Batikrom Natya Gosthi. Later he established a school of acting in 1984. He directed 33 plays for Batikrom and many more for radio and television. He also directed two films and translated many plays in Bangla. Syed Mohidul Islam died on August 23 in 2002.
