Dhaka Theatre premieres Pancho Nari Akhyan

Rosy Siddiqui enacts five female characters in the monodrama. Photo: Jamil Mahmud

Dhaka Theatre brings a new play featuring female protagonists who put up a happy façade despite experiencing unbearable agony.
The play, “Pancho Nari Akhyan”, premiered at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on November 30. Actor Shahiduzzaman Selim had his directorial debut [for the troupe] through the play. Written by Harun Rashid, the play featured Rosy Siddiqui in five different characters from respective societies.
One after another, Siddiqui enacted a village belle Jolekha; her transformed identity as a junior film actress in the city; a Hindu housewife Monoroma; another rural character Mariam; and finally the Mughal empress Momtaz.
Jolekha has been cheated by her husband and is forced to move to the city for survival. In the city, she survives by doing bit roles in films. She takes a new name, Antara.
The apparently happy Monoroma's silent cry is heard when her cousin visits her.
Mariam goes to a human rights organisation when her husband gets remarried, leaving her in the dark. The verdict favours her, but she achieves nothing as her husband has abandoned her.
Depiction of the historic character Momtaz addresses the negligence women faced inside the palaces. Momtaz died during childbirth at a time when male doctors were not allowed to see and treat women.
Through her performance, Siddiqui tried to connect the five characters, all of who face tragic fate in the male dominated society -- be it in the Mughal era or in contemporary time.
Afzal Hossain's set design featured a bold woodwork.
Shimul Yousuf and Chandan Chowdhury together worked on the background score, while Nasrin Nahar designed the costume. Wasim Ahmed was the light designer.