Theatre troupe Prangonemor staged its new production titled ‘Tiner Talowar’ at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Tuesday.
The troupe premiered the play at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on April 14 and staged two more shows on Monday and Tuesday at the same venue.
‘Tiner Talowar’, the troupe’s 17th production, depicts the struggles of theatre troupes. It was written by Indian actor-director-playwright Utpal Dutt and directed by Ananta Hira.
The play revolves around a senior theatre actor-director Benimadhav, who has dedicated his life to theatre. Birkrishna is an old rich man and owner of a theatre troupe.
Benimadhav wants to pursue theatre as an independent artiste but he fails to follow through due to his financial situation. Birkrishna says that Benimadhav can become the owner of a theatre troupe if a young actress named Shankari agrees to become a mistress.
Birkrishna also pressures Benimadhav saying that he will disband the troupe if Shankari does not agree to his proposal.
Birkrishna also promises that Shankari can continue acting if she agrees to become his mistress.
Shankari, who was a poor vendor, started her theatrical journey with the support of Benimadhav.
Benimadhav and Shankari have no other choice but to accept Birkrishna’s offer and the play moves forward.
‘Tiner Talowar is one of the prominent plays written and directed by Utpal Dutt. The British government in India implemented the Dramatic Performances Act in 1876 to control the theatre sector in India and the play was written on the backdrop of the act,’ said Ananta Hira, adding that the play gives the audience a glimpse into the nineteenth century.
‘The play was written many years ago. We have brought the play to the stage as the play is still relevant today,’ mentioned Ananta Hira, adding that people involved in theatre practice are still struggling to continue their journey and the play depicts their struggles.
Ananta Hira, Mofazzal Hossain, Mashiur Rahman Bhuiyah, Badhan Sarkar, Shubho, Shahed Sardar, Shishir Chowdhury, Gulshan Bonhi, Toma Hossain, Sujoy Gupta, Shimanta Amin, Awal Reza, Fahim Muntashir, Anzim Ahmed and others played different characters in the play.
Thandu Raihan designed stage lighting while Nuna Afroz designed costume, Faiz Zahir designed the stage and Shishir Rahman designed music, among others, in the play.
Prangonemor has received a good response from theatre lovers bringing 16 theatrical productions, including, Hasonjaner Raja, Ami o Rabindranath, Aurangzeb, Condemned Cell, Sheymaprem, Swadeshi, Loknayak, Raktakarabi, Droho Prem Nari, Shesher Kabita, Irsha, Abhineta and others to the stage.
