Ballads From The Days of Yore

With two years of intensive preparation and rehearsals, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premiered their third archaeological play Mahasthan at Vashubihar on November 23. The play sheds light on the 2,500-year old archaeological site with its distinctive socio-political and cultural change of courses. Written by Selim Mozahar and directed by renowned thespian and Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky, Mahasthan is an artistic tale of transforming archaeological history into visual poetry. A unique compilation, ranging from the ancient history of Pundranagara to our glorious Liberation War, is portrayed in the play. It is an archaeological expressed in the form of Palagaan incorporating episodes and songs from the ancient Hunting Age to the Vedic Era; from indigenous stage to Ramayana Geet along with the different poetry, folk songs, Bratachari songs, Panchokabi'r Gaan, Kavyageet and historical flashbacks on the Anti-British Movement, Language Movement and Liberation War. Around 350 theatre artistes on four open-air stages captivated the audience.

Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed