Lokojo Natya Utsab concludes in Mymensingh

A two-day folk festival (Lokojo Natya Utsab) concluded at Mymensingh town's Kewatkhali area this past week. Onnesha Theatre, a leading theatre troupe of Mymensingh, organised the festival.

"Mancha Moshal", a play on the history of the group, was directed by Mehdi Tanjir of Theatre and Performance Art Department of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University.

The other plays staged at the festival, "Bhanu Sundari", "Bonga Benu", and "Rupchand Sundarir Pala", were written and directed by Sayik Siddiquee.

Adapted and directed by Sayik Siddiquee, the highly appreciated "Bhanu Sundari", a pala (folk theatre) based on the story of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" was staged on the inaugural day of the festival that enthralled the audience most.

"Bhanu Sundari" was presented using the local dialects of Netrakona and Kishoreganj areas with popular pala style, a famous cultural form of Mymensingh region, said Sayik.

Sayik Siddiquee, Samiul Haque Akash, Monir Hossain Jibon, Moniruzzaman, Shakhawat Jamil Saikat, Atiqur Rahman, Nusrat Shimu, Eti, Sadi Shuvo, Tushar and Ashik were the cast of the play.

Marking the inaugural session, a discussion was held.

Shahadat Hossain Lipon of Dhaka University's Theatre Department; Anan Zaman and Fahim Malek Evan of Jahangirnagar University's Theatre Department; secretary of Bahurupi Natya Sangstha Shahadat Hossain Khan Hilu and adviser of Onnesha Theatre poet Anwara Sultana, among others addressed the inaugural session.

The speakers said Onnesha Theatre had made a tremendous contribution to the country's culture by bringing plays, enriched with ancient folk forms, to the stage. The theatre group needed to be commended for the festival and had shown a commitment to preserving a dying tradition, they added.