The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shadhona staged Hey Ananta Punya

Various scenarios of dance drama Hey Ananta Punya
staged by Shadhona at the National Theatre Hall of
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city recently. Photo:
Ali Imran Imam

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

“Shadhona - a centre working for the advancement of South Asian dance and music is a trust that was initiated, initially with the aim of revitalising and expanding the horizons of classical dance and music in Ban-gladesh. We have, through the years, expanded our horizon to include all performing arts in Southasia - folk and classical. The Centre has been working tirelessly for the last two decades to promote the rich cultural heritage of South Asia among young Bangladeshis through various events, workshops and training programs. 'Shadhona' also believes in building regional bonds through music and dance," said country's eminent dance artiste and General Secretary of Shadhona Lubna Marium.

The dance troupe Shadhona presented a dance drama 'Hey Ananta Punya' at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city recently. The production of 'Hey Ananta Punya' finds its inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore's drama 'Notir Puja' which is an adaptation of his poem 'Pujarini' where he has beautifully narrated the story of Sreemati, a dancer in the court of King Ajatashatru. The King had ascetically and ruthlessly established Hinduism as the state religion and kept no stone unturned to wipe off each and every trace of the ideology of Buddha, which his father, Bimbisar had pursued and perpetuated. Noti who was a seeker of peace and beauty sacrifices her life at the altar of Buddha - the epitome of love, peace and tolerance.

Buddhism meant much to Tagore at almost every stage of his life. He states that, the compassion, mercy and universal love preached by Buddha have helped to remove barriers men have put up between each other. 'Hey Ananta Punya,' the ballet upholds the belief of Tagore that God can be found through personal purity. The choreographer tries to give a contemporary understanding of Tagore's work and in her choreography gives an interpretation of the eight fold paths preached by Buddha to attain 'nirvana' or salvation. Through the dance she tries to give a picture of the existing societal condition during those turbulent times and concurrently give a brief glimpse of Buddhist philosophy.

The background musical score of the production, besides the songs of Tagore use Hindu and Buddhist chants. The dance styles use the Manipuri form or dance and a modern creative form based on the various classical, folk and martial dance forms of eastern India and the folk dance forms of Bengal.

The dance drama was directed by Warda Rihab. She also performed the role of the female head, 'Nati' while Lubna Marium carried out the role of 'Rani.' Also, Samina Hossain Prema played as 'Utpalparna' and Tahmina Anwar as 'Ratnavali.'

While addressing about Shadhona Lubna Marium said, "Shadhona remembers with respect the late Sarengi Maestro Ustad Sagiruddin Khan and feels extremely fortunate to have been able to invite him, from India, as a vocal classical music trainer, for the last eight years of his life, through its 'Guru Shisho Poromporay Proshikhon Por-kolpona'. The emphasis in this training programme is the 'one to one basis of training', unique to our sub-continent, primarily due to the lack of written musical notations."

The long-term objectives of the centre include workshops and lecture-demonstrations on dance, music and theatre with the aim of increasing an awareness and appreciation of our cultural heritage. In this era of highly concentrated audio-visual exposure from various sources, it is easy to comprehend the decline of the classical and folk forms of performances due to a lack of proper awareness and training. 'Shadhona' appeals to all music lovers to lend a helping hand in restoring the glory of performing arts in Bangladesh. A recent addition to Sadhona's list of objectives is the promotion of Indian Philosophy, Aesthetics in particular, contextual to the present social reality in South Asia.

The organisation has also been arranging classical music concerts for several years, both for increasing an awareness of the music and for fund-raising, said Lubna Marium.

Graphical art exhibition

Swadhinata / Sunnyur Rahman

Art & Culture Report

A graphical art exhibition title "CoGIto ErGo SuM - I Think Therefore I Am" by a promising Bangladeshi artist from abroad named Sunnyur Rahman was inaugurated on November 18 at Drik Gallery in Dhanmondi in the city.

Shankor Sawjal, Creative Director of Asiatic Marketing Company, inaugurated the show as chief guest.

Sunnyur was born in Saudi Arabia in 1987 where art and culture is always completely prohibited because of the Law of Islam. In spite of that restriction of that country, he has been carrying his art practice since his seven years of age without any cultural support of that country with watercolour, acrylic and oil painting. His father, Syedur Rahman, a civil engineer of the Royal Saudi Air Force was not so interested about his son's art works. He was always conscious of his son's career if he would take art as his profession. But where there is talent, it will obviously flourish one day. When his father thinks that he would be a computer expert, he becomes an artist in graphical world and he does it so early at the age of his twenty-one years. He has got admitted in CESCO (Computer Engineering Specialist Company) to get practical experience on Web Designing and also to fulfil his father's wish. He uses Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Dream weaver, Macromedia Flash, 3d studio max, & Cinema 4d.

At present Sunnyur has been working in Geant hypermarket as a Team Leader of the graphic designers, Advertising Department in Saudi Arabia. But his aim is always to be an artist. By working with that software he decided to use those to create something new in his artistic creation. And by fusion he gradually becomes a graphical artist. This experiment starts in 2003. And last five years is a result of his relentless works in this sector. He tries to create graphical abstract art that is totally different to all because it is a digital art that is a new concept in Bangladeshi perspective. And it's his believe that with the combination of fine art, photography and computer graphics, his art is extraordinary. To explore his ideas about this new art, he arranges an open exhibition for all. He wishes to come broadly more till he is in Bangladesh. For that, he wishes that every one will encourage him and attend in his exhibition largely with their suggestions, ideas and comments.

The exhibition will remain open till November 22 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

Good films can bring money & laurels

A scene from film Swapnadanai by Golam Rabbani
Biplob

Ishrat Jahan

Agricultural products and apparels are not the only ones with which a country can trade with other countries. A healthy film can also be a very good product. Apart from business, a good film mirrors a country's culture and tradition to the rest of the world.

A good entertaining film is not the outcome of any single individual's labour. Instead, many people like producers, distributors, directors, storywriters, actors and actresses, owners and workers of movie houses are closely involved in the process of making a film, a popular medium to entertain people.

However, many moviegoers have virtually stopped visiting movie houses as healthy and entertaining films are hardly made these days. On many occasions, cut-pieces containing obscene scenes are attached with films that cannot be enjoyed by people of decent taste.

In Pabna, for example, almost all the cinema halls have been closed down. Those not shut down yet are in a very bad shape. "Only a few years ago, the lives of cinema hall workers were different," says ex-cinema hall worker Mujibur Rahman, now running a grocery shop." Virtually, all the workers are now on the streets. Many of our colleagues are either rickshaw-pullers or day labourers."

Amjad Hossain, a filmmaker and a writer, says, "For our country, film can be a major source of income. Along with earning a lot of money, it's possible to generate employments for many people too. Film is such an industry through which our culture can be wholly mirrored." He says, "Not long ago, the position of our films in the world stage was very good. We can get that position back. But, the government will have to come forward in this regard. We'll have to think how our films can be globalised." Neighbouring India, Amjad says, has a tremendous success in commercialising their films globally, but Bangladesh has failed. A few days ago, three overseas friends came to watch a film at Star Cine-Complex, Basundhara. One of them was Sweden's Simbla Jenny. She said, "We have come here to feel the Bengali culture because through this medium, many aspects of Bangladesh can be understood very quickly." Golam Rabbani, a director known for making healthy films, says, "Bangladeshi films are far away from the international standard. Besides, the number of viewers in our country will have to be increased. And to make that happen, the cinema hall owners will have to ensure good environment in their halls." He says patronage is necessary for development the countrys film industry. If Bangladeshi films want to catch the international market, the local market should be targeted first. The interest of people about films has to be evoked. Experts say film is the principal medium of entertainment in Bangladesh. It's a business too wherein crores of taka are being invested. To enrich the industry, everyone's cooperation is necessary.

- News Network