Selim Al Deen Festival in full swing

(Left) Artist Dhali Al Mamun inaugurates the Chittagong festival by drawing a portrait of Al Deen; a scene from the mimodrama “Prachya”. Photo: STAR

The four-day theatre festival to observe the fourth death anniversary of Selim Al Deen is being held at the Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). Selim Al Deen Foundation, in association with BSA, is arranging the festival that started from January 13.
The first day's programme included staging of the Al Deen play “Dhaboman” and a musical programme highlighting Tagore's influence on Al Deen.
Veteran theatre personality Ataur Rahman inaugurated the festival. Nasiruddin Yousuff, chief of Dhaka Theatre and festival convener, presided over the session. Among others, Al Deen's widow Begumzadi Meherunnisa was present.
Dhaka Theatre's “Dhaboman” is directed by Shimul Yousuf. Yousuf also compiled the musical programme -- “Rabindra Bhuban-e Selim-er Bhromon” -- that featured several Tagore songs used in Al Deen's plays. A documentary, titled “Ei Je Ami”, on Al Deen's life and works was the day's other notable attraction. Esha Yousuff made the documentary.
The second day's programme featured a memorial lecture on Al Deen. Professor Afsar Ahmed, of Jahangirnagar University, delivered the lecture at the Seminar Room of the academy. Following the lecture, a group of Kobial from Dinajpur rendered traditional kobi gaan at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
The festival ends today. Bunon Theatre, Savar will stage “Chaka” today. Anon Zaman is the director of the play.
Selim Al Deen died on January 14, 2008.

Pranabesh Chakraborty, Chittagong
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In memory of Selim Al Deen, a two-day festival was held in the port city on January 13 and 14.
Theatre enthusiasts of the city flocked to see several of Al Deen's dramas in the course of the festival.
Marking the 4th death anniversary of the noted dramatist, Selim Al Deen Foundation, Natyadhar and Pantomime Movement jointly arranged the festival at the District Shilpakala Academy.
Drawing a portrait of Selim Al Deen, eminent artiste Dhali Al Mamun inaugurated the festival. Loud beats of dhol by Babul Jaladas and his troupe followed. Elocutionist Faruque Taher recited from the writings of Al Deen.
Rizwan Rajan, director of Pantomime Movement, presented the keynote paper at the programme, while Dr. Kuntal Barua, teacher of Dramatics Department, Chittagong University; poet Ejaz Yusufi; Professor Moshiur Rahman Adnan; dramatist Pradip Dewanjee and Mostafa Kamal Jatra spoke at the programme. Dramatist Khandaker Murtaja Ali, member of Selim Al Deen Foundation, presided over the programme.
Speakers at the programme were of the view that through his life and works Selim Al Deen played a significant role in establishing institutes for theatre and created a new theatre movement that resounded with the voice of the marginalised.
The maestro believed in experimentation, innovation and creative amalgamation in drama and theatre, they added.
The plays “Sangbad Cartoon”, directed by M. Saiful Alam Chowdhury, and “Bhoga Kain” directed by Mostafa Kamal Jatra were staged on the first day of the festival. Ganayan Natya Sampraday and Natyadhar presented the plays.
The second day of the festival featured a mimodrama, “Prachya”, and “Basan” -- both scripted by Selim Al Deen. Pantomime Movement and Arindam staged the plays.