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Event: Students of Maple Leaf School staged Valmiki Pratibha

Students of Maple Leaf International School present
Tagore's dance drama Valmiki Pratibha at Bangladesh Shishu
Academy on Thursday. NN Photo

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Students of the Maple Leaf International School staged Rabindranath Tagore's dance drama 'Valmiki Pratibha' at the Bangladesh Shishu Academy in the city Thursday evening.

Students of the school performed in the dance drama. Performance of the students enthralled a huge number of audiences. At the age of twenty the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore wrote his first music drama 'Valmiki Pratibha' (The Genius of Valmiki), which showcases the metamorphosis of the dacoit (bandit) leader 'Ratnakar' into Valmiki, the first Indian mythological poet who is the composer of the epic 'Ramayana.'

The plot is based on the bandit chief Ratnakar who to please the patron goddess 'Kali' asks his followers to procure a young girl for sacrifice from one of the neighbouring villages. The main action of the play begins when the brave and indomitable bandit chief is moved by the touching, lyrical pleas of the young girl on the altar of the sacrifice and lets her go.

Neither Ratnakar nor his band of brigands can comprehend the sudden change in him for since this incident he has known no peace of mind. Realising that their chief is no longer interested in the regular activities of foraging the forest or plundering and looting the villages his followers' desert him.

During this unsettling time Ratnakar comes upon two hunters in the act of killing a pair of cranes (krounchomithun). He tries to stop them but in vain. Very soon the cry of the bird for its dead mate is replaced by the beseeching wails of the earlier captive young girl. And in that instant Ratnakar is blessed by the goddess 'Saraswati' for his repentance and pity. With her boon Ratnakar now utters the first 'shlok' or metre that heralds the birth of the immortal ancient poet Valmiki. Thus, the genius of Valmiki is revealed.

Unique in its operatic presentation, 'Valmiki Protibha' was first performed in December 1881 at the 'Biddawajjan Samagam Sammilani' where Tagore himself played the role of Valmiki. Through it, Tagore, who was then influenced by the spectacle of the European opera, vigorously explores a wide range of dramatic styles and emotions, including usage of revamped kirtans, Indian folk and traditional raga based compositions blended with the adaptation of traditional English and Irish folk melodies.

Although primarily written and performed as a music drama this presentation has been adapted into a dance drama.

Rtv airs Apon ghore porobash tonight

Deepa Khondaker in drama serial Apon ghore porobash
on Rtv

Entertainment Report

The seventh episode of drama serial 'Apon ghore porobash' to be aired on Rtv at 9:40pm today. Aftab Bin Tamiz has scripted the drama, while Kaisar Ahmed has directed it.

Shahiduzzaman Selim, Tania Ahmed, Shoeb, Joy, Deepa Khondaker, ATM Shamsuzzaman, Chitralekha Guha, Faruk Ahmed and others performed in the drama serial.

Story of Apon ghore porobash:

Bikar Khan is the head of a high-class family. He has his wife Ayna Begum and two daughters - Antora and Sanchari, two servants and brother-in-law. Whole family is a parliament. Monir and Imran, who completed their study recently, were searching jobs and house in the city. They moved elsewhere in the city. Then they decided to get marriage with a daughter of a rich man. In the meantime, Bikar Khan declared that a man is coming from USA. But he did not disclose his name to them. At the last stage of the drama daughter of his previous wife Nila came to his house. The 26-episode drama serial will end then.

TV Watch: ATN Bangla airs Sagai tonight

Anisur Rahman Milon and co-artiste in drama serial
Sagai

Entertainment Report

The fourth episode of drama serial 'Sagai' to be aired on ATN Bangla at 8:00pm today. M Sakhawat Hossain has scripted and directed the drama.

Mamunur Rashid, Joyonta Chattapaddhya, SM Mohsin, Anisur Rahman Milon, Apurbo, Pran Roy, Joyotika Joyoti, Borsha, among others, performed in the serial.

Story of Sagai:

Kholahati is a village. Fifty percent of the people of this village are potter. They make ceramic dishes, toys and other items and then sell those items. Ketoki is an aggressive female character in the village. She has lost her mother and besides pottery works she can render songs. She had a troupe in this regard. The story continues with various incidents.

TV Serial: Jogfol on Banglavision

Abul Hayat and Srabonti in drama serial Jogfol on
Banglavision

Entertainment Report

New drama serial 'Jogfol' to be started on Banglavision on Saturday. The first episode of the drama serial to be aired on Banglavision at 8:20pm today. Tazin Ahmed has scripted and directed the drama serial. Abul Hayat, Anisur Rahman Milon, Srabonti, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Homaira Himu, Shams Sumon, Tania, Nafiza, Smriti, Raunak Hasan, Muntasir Mamun Saju, among others, performed in the serial.

Story of Jogfol:

Professor of a private university Abul Hayat made a plan to visit Pataiya in Bangkok along with his colleague Srabonti. He wanted to take his some favourite students. As a result, they reached Bangkok. Then various incidents occurred there. Some mysterious incidents took place at the hotel where they started staying. Sometimes an ambiguous person attacked on Anisur Rahman Milon and other students. Abul Hayat became tensed with this situation. He communicated with Bangladeshi police officer Fazlur Rahman Babu. Only Homaira Himu did not faced attacked of that ambiguous person. But why? This is the story of Jogfol.

Drama: Ekakitto on Ntv tonight

Afzal Hossain in drama Ekakitto on Ntv
tonight

Entertainment Report

Drama 'Ekakitto' to be aired on Ntv at 9:00pm today. Dilip Chak-raborty has scripted the drama, while Monirul Islam Masum has directed it.

Afzal Hossain, Srabonti, Mahmudul Islam Mithu, among others, performed in the drama.

Story of Ekakitto:

Loneliness makes a man directionless. Hero of the drama tries to get relief from it. The story is based on a lifestyle of a lonely person.

Hollywood: Beyonce would like to be known as 'Sasha Fierce'

Beyonce performs at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards
held in Los Angeles, California.

Reuters, Los Angeles

Just like the 'Seinfeld' episode where George wanted everyone to call him 'T-Bone,' Beyonce Knowles would like to be known by a bold new name. The R&B singer has christened herself 'Sasha Fierce' for her new double album, "I Am t Sasha Fierce," due in US stores on November 18, and has released a lengthy justification for the comical moniker. "I have someone else that takes over when it's time for me to work and when I'm on stage, this alter ego that I've created that kind of protects me and who I really am," the former Destiny's Child front woman said in a statement.

"Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I'm working and when I'm on the stage." Additionally, she has set up a cryptic MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/sashafierce) that gives a 'lucky person' the opportunity to receive a personal message and a gift bag valued at $500.

Bollywood: Neelam showcases signature jewellery collection

Neelam Kothari

Actress-turned-designer Neelam Kothari's signature jewellery collection is on show at a leading fashion store in the capital and it is difficult to miss the prominent Mughal impressions in her creations.

"The Mughals and Nizam's always attracted me and hence it became the inspiration behind this collection of mine. My style statement is classic and timeless," Neelam told IANS.

Though fashioned after period pieces, the jewellery that is on display till Sep 30 at Carma Arts & Crafts Pvt Ltd in Mehrauli, south Delhi, is designed keeping in mind the trends of today. "My styling is for everyone", said Neelam whose target buyers start from the age of 17.

- Agency