A conflict between vice and virtue
Surgaon, a 22nd production of Desh Natok premiered at National Theatre Hall auditorium of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on January 20. Written and directed by Masum Reza, the play delineates the eternal conflict between vice and virtue. Aanal Fakir, originally donned by Kamal Ahmed, is the founder of the village Surgaon. One hundred and eighty years back in one night he departs from the village giving a Mohon Banshi (flute) to the Banshiburi, enacted by Tamima Tithi. Aanal Fakir told the Bashiburi to take away all vices from the hearts of the people with the flute.
Asman Fakir (originally donned by Mamun Chowdhury), a great grandson of Aanal Fakir, can foresee the future. He predicts that his Char Dada (great grandfather) will return to the village and it happens accordingly. Aanal Fakir returns along with a number of priceless artefacts as gifts from his travel to the archaeology of time. According to his will, he travels to Babylon, England (during the time of Sir Thomas Moore), the kingdom of Kuru, Damascus and Greece (during the time of Socrates). The queen of Babylon, Sir Thomas Moore, Draupadi, Crito (friend of Socrates) and the Amir of Damascus gave him the valuable gifts.
On an allegation of travelling reverse the time and stealing the priceless gifts from the chasm of time, a band of Tamrasena (military personnel) enters the village. Introducing themselves as the safeguard of time, the army men try to bring back the so called order into the village. There begins the ultimate conflict between vice and virtue.
The story of the play may apparently seem to be legendary; but there lie amazing allegories in every act of the production. The power of Asman Fakir's love for Suhi (enacted by Meghla Maya) wins at the end against all odds. The tragic end of the life of Aanal Fakir happens when Tamrasena forcefully make him drink a cup of poisonous hemlock in the same chalice that was used by Socrates. The sacrifice of lives by Oshthakala (donned by Jolly Chowdhury) and her son make the audience emotional as they witness how they were brutally killed by the chief of army (played by Firoz Alam).
The play superbly depicts the past with the incorporation of good dialogues, set, light and suspense and beckons the upcoming unwanted happenings of future in contemporary styles. The costume, dance choreography, music and light were impressive, thanks to the artistic efforts of Wahida Mallik Jolly, Munmun Ahmed, Shimul Yousuf and Nasirul Haque Khokon respectively.
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