Homage to the bard through music and dance

The highlight of the programme was Tagore's classic dance-drama “Chandalika”.Photo: Mumit M.

Marking 69th death anniversary of Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) arranged an elaborate programme at National Theatre Hall of BSA on August 8.
Director of Music and Dance Department of BSA, RA Mahmud Selim, welcomed all at the programme. Secretary to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, and director general of BSA, Kamal Lohani, spoke on the occasion.
“We can call Rabindranath our own. We should preserve and uphold his creations with commitment,” Kamal Lohani said.
Following the discussion, five Tagore singers -- Mita Haque, Papia Sarwar, Abdul Wadud, Nilotpol Sadhya and Ashraf Mahmud -- were honoured. Young singers greeted them with flowers.
Mita Haque spoke on behalf of the honoured singers: “Tagore exponents like Waheedul Haque, Sanjida Khatun, Abdul Ahad, Kalim Sharafi and others have prepared the ground for us to uphold the musical legacy of Rabindranath in Bangladesh.”
The cultural programme kicked off with a presentation of a Tagore song “Jakhon Porbey Na More Payer Chinho” with dance. Abdur Rashid Swapan who donned the character of Tagore in the performance enacted the images used in the song along with a number of dancers. Deepa Khandakar choreographed the performance.
Moumita Jannat, Samiul Aziz and Farzana Chaiti recited “Tomar Srishtir Poth,” “Ami” and “Porichoy” respectively at the event.
Solo renditions of Tagore songs followed. Adrita Anwar, Zafar Ahmed, Nitotpol Sadhya, Abdul Wadud, Naima Islam Naz and others rendered “Achhey Dukkho Achhey Mrityu,” “Shudhu Tomar Bani Noy Go,” “Jibon Moroner Shimana,” “Tumi Robey Nirobey,” “Patar Bhela Bhashai Nirey” and more at the programme.
M Mohon Sinha on percussion (handsonic); Rafiqul Islam, Shahabuddin Mian and Jamal Uddin on violin; Ashit Biswas on esraj; Yusuf Khan on sarod; Moniruzzaman on flute; Nurul Islam on guitar; Rafiq Hossain Khan, Ekram Hossain and Chandan Dutta on tabla; Zahid Hossain on keyboard and Bishnu on mondira accompanied the singers. The instrumental presentation was conducted by Swapan Kumar Nag.
The highlight of the programme was Tagore's classic dance-drama “Chandalika”. The dance-drama was staged by the artistes of Nrityanandan.
“Chandalika,” an adaptation of “Jatak” (a collection of Buddhist stories), portrays the coming of age of a lower caste woman, Prokriti (played by Sharmila Banerjee) whom the society labels as “Chandalika” (untouchable). She develops a fascination with the Buddhist monk Ananda (donned by Abdur Rashid Swapan).
The original story depicts how, having achieved nirvana, Chandalika gives up her desire for Ananda. However, Tagore has not given a glimpse of Buddha or the necessity of acquiring nirvana. His Chandalika is all flesh and blood. At the end, when Prokriti's mother (donned by singer Lily Islam) uses witchcraft to lure Ananda to Prokriti, the latter turns him down as she recognises that love cannot be achieved forcefully.
The cast also included Anik Basu (Doiwala), Tapan (Churiwala), Mehraj Haque Tushar (royal spy), Fahmida, Sudeshna, Laxmi, Kuasha, Afsana, Era and others. Sharmila Banerjee choreographed the dance-drama.
RA Mahmud Selim compiled and directed the programme.