“Paap Punya” at TIC

The play provides an insight into human psychology. Photo: Anurup Kanti Das

On the second day of the theatre festival, people of the port city enjoyed the play “Paap Punya”, at Theatre Institute, Chittagong (TIC) on Sunday evening.
Nandikar, a leading theatre troupe of the port city, staged the play at the festival, arranged by The Daily Star as a part of its “Odommo Chattagram” initiative to highlight the indomitable spirit, culture, heritage, history and future prospects of Chittagong.
Written by Leo Tolstoy and directed by Alak Ghosh the play, “Paap Punya”, narrates that consciously or unconsciously, we often engage ourselves in misdeeds or sins.
The story begins in a church. A terrorist, a professor, a nurse and the priest are the key characters of the play who are confined by a guard -- dispatched by the god -- saying that a criminal has entered the church.
Through confessions of the four confined characters, the play stresses on the fact that we all commit big and small good deeds and misdeeds. The play highlights that despite many good qualities, humans often unconsciously commit crimes. Yet everyone wants to get rid of his/her sins and be liberated.
In the play, Alak Ghosh and Abdul Hadi enacted the roles of the priest and David. Parvez Ahmed, Mohammed Saifuddin, Aparna Ghosh played other important roles.
“I am quite satisfied with the production and turnout,” said Nandikar president Alak Ghosh, adding that this was the 17th show of the play.
“There are many troupes in the city that are working well”, Ghosh said.
Initiatives like “Odommo Chattagram” would help to bring theatre practices in the port city under the national limelight, he expected.
Parvez Ahmed designed the stage, while Manjur Haider Chowdhury and Yunus Titu designed the lights.
Sound, music, and the costumes were admirable. Biswajit Chakraborty and Prakash Chandra Shil directed the music and designed costumes for the play.