Small Screen
Dancing to Nazrul's tunes
Fayza Haq
Khaled Mahmood Mithu has been directing and shooting films and other programmes for TV for quite a while now. His programme featuring five dance performances, titled Srishti Shukher Ullashey, was aired on Channel 1 on May 25, marking Kazi Nazrul Islam's birth anniversary on Channel 1."Nazrul's superior musical abilities gave him the know-how to compose songs with different nuances. The songs chosen for the programme are romantic, festive and patriotic in nature. Thus we see the poet from different angles. Not many directors are involved in making dance programmes for TV and the dancers suffer the consequence. I'm trying to promote the art form," says Mithu. The dances were colourful and varied. This was an elaborate venture and Mithu did not make any compromise when it came to production cost. "The best possible way to honour our National Poet is to present his work in a contemporary light," says Mithu. Shibli Muhammed and Shameem Ara Nipa, who choreographed the dances, were given complete freedom in selecting the dancers. Mithu explained the shot divisions, framing of sequences and lighting to the dancers so that they performed accordingly. One composition dealt with the life of a soldier, three were developed on pure romantic themes, while one depicted with the traditional "holi" celebration. Shibli, Nipa and Mithu have been working together for a decade now. "The dances were shot at Bangla Academy, Arjo Cholochitra office and the Agargao Community Centre. The programme was funded by Channel 1," says Mithu. Mithu also directed the much-acclaimed dance programme Nupur for ntv.
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Shameem Ara Nipa and Shibly Muhammad in a romantic dance sequence (Top) and an enthralling group dance presentation with the song Durgomo Giri |