“Theatre fights the unjust and ugly”-- Asaduzzaman Noor

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, MP is a powerful actor, elocutionist and a renowned theatre and cultural personality. The ministry of cultural affairs has sponsored the 10-day "2nd Dhaka International Theatre Fest", jointly organised by International Theatre Institute, Bangladesh Centre and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. In a conversation with this correspondent, he shared his views on the country's theatre and cultural activism. 

"China has been using their culture as a weapon of world diplomacy. They are funding hugely on culture as a state policy. In the West, we see immense cultural initiatives undertaken by the private sectors. Banks sponsor theatre productions in Europe. We have problems here in taking sponsors from any bank or multinational corporations. While some people criticise taking sponsorship, I think we have to change such mentality. Our state budget on culture is very low, which is a problem."

"Culture, as a whole, advocates for humanity. Theatre fights against what is unjust, unsocial and ugly. If theatre fails to represent these, we cannot term a production successful. Here lies the power and nucleus of culture. So, it is natural for theatre to choose its path towards humanity and peace and to stand against any crime and violence. The theme for this year's festival is significantly relevant, and is a timely, spontaneous protest from the theatre activists."

In reply to a question why memorable characters like Baker Bhai are a rarity these days, Noor said, "It is because of the lack of quality playwright. The lack is not only visible in the scene of TV plays, but in theatre as well. Yet, it's a good sign that some young playwrights are writing for theatre. There are some powerful writers for TV play, but I guess they cannot produce their best due to the pressure of commercialization. They have to do what they are asked to do. A powerful writer can create a timeless story, creating legendary characters. An actor cannot express their talent without a good story. I hear present generation actors are not even given scripts… They just deliver impromptu dialogues as per the plot. It's outrageous!" 

About the government's initiatives on the cultural front, he said: "Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy has now reached at Upazila levels. We have almost completed the entire infrastructural works in all the districts. But I doubt if local cultural organisations avail the opportunity of using those. I dream of resuming cultural activities at school, college and university levels. Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF) is a big organisation. They have wings across the country. If a theatre troupe takes responsibility of instructing students at a local school, Bangladesh will definitely become culturally vibrant -- which is a dire need for the country's overall progress. We are going through difficult times. We all must engage our efforts to bring back the lost pride and heritage of our cultural excellence in making a progressive Bangladesh."