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Arakkhita: Desh Natok's adaptation of an episode from Mahabharat

Jamil Mahmud
The story highlights issues related to sovereignty. It also zooms in on an arrogant and alcoholic priest, who blindly loves his only daughter, and finally pays a heavy price. Borrowing elements from the epic, ''Mahabharat", Desh Natok's play, "Arakkhita”, touches upon relevant, contemporary issues.
The troupe staged the play on May 30 (4th day) at the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy as part of the ongoing "International Theatre Festival, Seminar and Workshop” arranged by the Bangladesh Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITT).
Mahbub Leelen wrote the play, based on the story of Shukracharya's mrita shanjibani (resurrection) mantra; Ishrat Nishat has directed it.
The play depicted political issues impacting a land called 'Bangadwip', where the story takes place.
Shukracharya, chief priest of Bangadwip, knows how to resurrect the dead. Kach, prince from Bangadwip's rival nation, comes to Shukracharya and wants to be his disciple. Kach's ultimate goal is to learn the mantra and for this he adopts the means of treachery. He toys with the
hearts of both the priest's daughter, Debjani, and the princess of the land, Sharmistha.
Although Kach succeeds in learning the mantra, he cannot absorb it because of Sharmistha's ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Nishat's directorial approach followed the traditional way to articulate a story from an epic. Dilip Chakraborty as Shukracharya was a bold presence on the stage.
Mamun Chowdhury played Kach, while Tithi Zaman enacted the role of Debjani. Asim Kumar Natto, Fahim Malik Evan, Shahana Shishir, Firoz Alam and Ananta Kumar played other roles.
Nasirul Haque Khokon did the light, while Lucy Tripti Gomes was the costume and props designer.
On the same day, Dhaka Padatik staged Rabindranath Tagore's "Apod" at the Experimental Theatre Hall, while Universal Theatre staged “Mahatta" at the Studio Theatre Hall.
"We have to understand professionalism and amateur theatre practice in Asia”
— Chua Soo Pong, artistic advisor, NanningYue Opera
Professor Chua Soo Pong, artistic advisor of the visiting Naning Yue Opera from China, enjoyed the Desh Natok production. He remarked, “They have very good acting skills. The design, the tempo and the movement were impressive."
Professor Soo Pong, who teaches Aesthetics at the University of Osaka, Japan, also commented on the Shadhona production “Mayar Khela", which he found to be very rhythmic. “The dance-drama was interesting. The way they narrated the story through music and dance was great,” he said.
Professor Soo Pong first came to Bangladesh in 1990. Since then, he has come here several times. He has a sound idea about theatre practice in Bangladesh. On the issue of initiating professionalism, he said that Bangladeshi theatre has developed a lot.
"We have to understand professionalism and so called 'amateur theatre practice' in Asia. In Asian tradition, people who perform or dance, also have other fulltime jobs. They may be farmers, scholars or government officials. They get involved in theatre out of love for the medium, and it's done in free time. This is quite similar whether in China, India or Bangladesh,” he said.
About the theme of the festival "Theatre in Asia, Asia in Theatre”, he said that there should be more participating countries.
He found the local audience to be quite receptive, especially during his troupe's performance of the production “Mouse Daughter's Marriage”.
Professor Chua Soo Pong served as the director of Chinese Opera Institute in Singapore for 15 years.