Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Syed Jamil Ahmed to receive ‘Selim Al Deen Padak'

Tomorrow marks the 74th birth anniversary of the renowned playwright Selim Al Deen. Born in 1949, Selim Al Deen remains an iconic figure in the realm of Bengali drama literature, with his artistic contributions spanning a new dimension through the introduction of the innovative style known as dualmonism. 

As a pioneer of the theatre movement after the Liberation War, his legacy continues to shine bright. 

In honour of this visionary's birth anniversary, various cultural organisations are set to pay their respects tomorrow.

Dhaka Theatre joins this celebration by bestowing the esteemed 'Seilm Al Deen Padak' upon the illustrious actor Pijush Bandyopadhyay and the eminent theatre personality Syed Jamil Ahmed. 

They will also organise a four-day festival featuring placing floral wrath, commemorative discussion, an award-giving ceremony, and staging plays.

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Dhaka Theatre's Selim Al Deen Festival begins

The stage is set for an artistic rendezvous as theatre organisation Swapnadal orchestrates a splendid two-day Salim Al Deen birth festival at Shilpakala Academy. Amid the symphony of celebration, the festival serves as a canvas for performances, discussions, and tributes that mirror the brilliance of the playwright.

The inaugural day, August 18, will be marked by a stage play of Rabindranath Tagore's poetic drama "Chitrangada" at 6 pm, followed by another staging at 7:30 pm. The festival's inauguration will be graced by actor Rashid Harun, who will lead a compelling discussion on Salim Al Din's life, work, and philosophy. 

Hailing from Feni, Selim Al Deen, fondly known as 'natyacharya' or master of drama, etched his legacy in the annals of artistry. His foray into the theatre world took flight with his debut play, "Shorpo Bishoyok Golpo" in 1972.

The following year saw the birth of Dhaka Theatre, an institution he founded that stands as a beacon of the progressive drama movement in Bangladesh. Dhaka Theatre proudly staged almost all of Selim Al Deen's plays, including "Kittonkhola", "Bashon", "Atotai", "Saifulmulk Badiuzzaman", "Keramat Mangal", "Chaka", "Joiboti Koinnar Mon", "Hargaj", among others. 

Although he left this world on January 14, 2008, Selim Al Deen's legacy continues to illuminate the theatrical landscape and captivate hearts.