'Iblish' returns to Dhaka
The first stage play I had been to was 16 years ago: my mother took me to a play at the Bangladesh Mahila Samity auditorium, in Dhaka's Bailey Road. Since I was very young at the time, I could not remember the details of the play. What I remember, though, is how fascinated I was with the whole production. Little did I realize that fascination would later go on to shape my career in film-making.
I also remember meeting theatre genius Mamunur Rashid before the show - he was the director of the play and also played one of the central characters. 'Iblish' it was, renowned and performed by popular theatre troupe Aranyak Natyadal. Sixteen years later, I leaped with the same excitement as I had felt back then when I learnt that Aranyak would stage the play again this year.
I decided to go down memory lane, and re-live my childhood experience. On Tuesday evening, I went to the National Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, where the play was scheduled to be staged. Reaching the venue an hour before the show, I found long queues at the ticket counters, with many more who had already pre-booked their tickets - like me.
The play began to a house full audience, and I realized once again why it was such a critically acclaimed production.
'Iblish' is a socio-political satire drama that tells the story of Rafik, played by Saju, who has, to put it simply, a difficult relationship with his imam father Munshi, played by Shah Alam Dulal.
