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Loko Natyadal’s Shonai Madhab hits century

Innovative blend of Padabali Kirtan and Jatrapala

Nadia Sarwat
"Shonai Madhab", an illustrious presentation by Loko Natyadal, was staged on November 21 at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Based on the tragic love story of Shonai and Madhab, a well-known chronicle from Mymensingh Geetika, "Shonai Madhab" is an experimental blend of Padabali Kirtan and traditional Jatarapala. As it was the hundredth stage performance of the production, Loko Natyadal celebrated the event with great enthusiasm.
Shamsuzzaman Khan, eminent folk researcher, was the chief guest at the event and M Hamid, chairman, Bangladesh Group Theatre federation; Jhuna Choudhury, secretary general of BGTF and Mohini Mohon Chakrobarti, advi-
sor of Loko Natayadal were present as special guests. All the cast and crew of “Shonai Madhab” along with the guests were honoured by the troupe at the event, which was presided over by Ali Iskandar Ahmed of Loko Natya Dal.
Terming the production as a "Padabali Jatra," director Eugene Gomez said, " One of the ancient theatrical performances, Padabali Kirtan moves forward by depicting the story through songs. With some other experimental features, we also included dances in "Shonai Madhab". To retain the original essence of Jatra pala, female characters are played here by male actors."
Mostofa Anwar Swapon was the music director of "Shonai Madhab". Composed by Dinendra Chowdhury and Mostofa Anwar Swapon, the music was composed
by Avijit Choudhury effectively to maintain the mood of both Kirtan and Jatrapala. Shonai Madhab commences with two anonymous narrators singing the background story of Shonai, a village belle of tender age whose beauty can only be compared with the full moon. Through the exquisiteness of the dialect of Mymensingh, the audience is also informed that Shonai lost her father at an early age. Full of vivacity and dreams of a beautiful future, Shonai (Played by Kamrun Nur Choudhury) enters the stage with her "Sakhi"s. Conse-quently she meets her love, ‘Madhab (played by Aslam Shihir), a romantic youth who wins her heart and the two wait for a happy marriage. The amorous encounter between Shonai and Madhab through songs and dances are quite entertaining for the audience and this was also when the villain intrudes into the story. Bhabana, a
heinous, lustful yet influential man in the village is also attracted by Shonai’s extraordinary beauty and sends his men to abduct the girl. Zahid Chowdhury is excellent in depicting the scoundrel with all his intolerance, rage and comical gestures. Failing to abduct Shonai, however, Bhabna imprisons Madhab just after the lovers get married. Hearing that Bhabna will only release Madhab when he gets Shonai in his grasp, Shonai bravely starts for Bhabna's house, with a bottle of poison tied to her attire.
Acclaimed both in the country and abroad, "ShonaiMadhab' was first staged at the Mahila Samiti auditorium in 1993. It has been staged at several theatre festivals in different countries and in different places within the country. It was adjudged one of the best productions at the International Theatre Olympiad held in Delhi in 1993.