After the Liberation War-based production “Target Platoon”, National Theatre Repertory brings another play on the stage. The latest production is historic -- “Rudro Robi O Jallianwala Bagh”. The play premiered at the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, on August 5. Written by Manzur-e-Mawla, the play has been directed by Ataur Rahman.

Prior to the premiere of the play, the director, playwright and invited guests spoke on the play and the historic importance of the subject. Among guests, noted author-playwright Syed Shamsul Haq; National Professor Mustafa Nurul Islam and director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky spoke at the programme.

The play narrates the tragic event that happened in Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, undivided India. On Punjabi New'Year (April 13), in 1919, peaceful revellers were murdered by the then British authority. After hearing of this cruelty, Rabindranath Tagore called for a meeting in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and subsequently, as a sign of protest, renounced his knighthood conferred by the British.

In the play, the audience sees fragments of processions and movements as well as an agonised Tagore roaming around on the stage and reciting poems. Mahatma Gandhi's protest, along with his followers, is also depicted at times in the play.

A group of actors from different troupes formed the cast.

Shamim Sagar, who played a young Tagore in the Palakar production “Banglar Mati Banglar Joi”, once again played the Nobel laureate poet. This time, he played an aged Tagore. Shahazada Shamrat played Mahatma Gandhi, while the cast also included Ataur Rahman, Fakhruzzaman Chowdhury, Golam Shahriar, Aminur Rahman, Nur Zaman, Mahfuz Rizvi, Shamima Aktar and Joyita Maholanbish.

Nasirul HaqueJChokon's design saw both bright and di mined use of light. Junayed Usuf was the set *