Theatre troupe Spardha: Independent Theatre Collective staged its production titled ‘Ami Birangana Bolchhi’, portraying the struggles of war heroines, at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday.
The play, based on Nilima Ibrahim’s book ‘Ami Birangana Bolchhi’, has been designed and directed by Syed Jamil Ahmed.
The troupe staged the play as part of its two-month-long theatre festival titled ‘Utsabe Spardha: Bidraher Chetanaye Din Pratidin’, which is featuring workshops, discussion and theatre shows.
Spardha premiered ‘Ami Birangana Bolchhi’ in 2023. The play portrays the journey of a Birangana named Meherjan who struggles during the war and after the country’s independence.
Meherjan feels betrayed when the people of her own area help the Pakistani army to kidnap her. After she is tortured by the Pakistani soldiers and their collaborators, Meherjan decides to leave the country with a Pakistani soldier because she observes many families refuse to provide shelter to the rape victims. As a Bengali girl, she struggles a lot in Pakistan and is able to establish herself as a small entrepreneur.
When Meherjan visits her home in Kapasia, she realises her family did not receive her because she is a rape victim. Meherjan leaves her motherland in sorrow.
Mohsina Akhter portrayed the character of Meherjan while Sharmin Akter Shorme, Sifat Nowrin Bonni, Fariha Jannat Mim, Marium Rupa and Riasat Salekin, among others, played different characters in the play.
‘Ami Birangana Bolchhi’ will be staged today at the same venue, while Mohsina Akhter-directed by ‘Tabuo Jege Uthi’ will be staged on September 7 and September 8 at the festival.
