Memorial programme on Amalendu Biswas at BSA

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy arranged a programme to pay tribute to iconic jatra artiste Amalendu Biswas. The programme was held at the auditorium of National Music and Dance Centre, on June 29. Noted jatra artistes spoke on Biswas' life and works and staged a cultural programme.
Among jatra artistes, Biswas' widow Jotsna Biswas, SM Mohsin and Milon Kanti Dey spoke on the thespian. They talked about different aspects from Biswas' on stage performance and personal life.
Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy presided over the session.
Later a cultural programme consisting parts from different jatra productions by Biswas were staged at the venue. Milon Kanti Dey staged sequences from “Rahur Grash”, “Shohrab Rustam” and “Nabab Sirajuddoulah”. The three productions helped Biswas to gain popularity.
Upendranath Das and Bachchu Khan staged Bibek-er Gaan. The programme ended through a multimedia projection on Biswas.
Born in 1925 in Yangon (Myanmar), Amalendu Biswas started his career at the British Royal Air force. However, his passion for the performing arts led him to leave the service during the World War II. Subsequently, he formed a jatra troupe.
During the 1960s he got immense popularity for his unique performance in jatra-pala and thus gained the title of Jatra Samrat. “Hitler”, “Janoar” and “Michael Madhushudan” are his other popular jatra-pala. To deliver the message of freedom among the people during our Liberation War, he regularly staged “Ekti Paisa Pala”.
For his brilliant performance as the protagonist in the pala “Michael Madhushudan”, he got the Sequence of Merit Award provided by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1980. Amalendu Biswas passed away in 1987.