Theatre programmes mark Selim Al Deen’s 77th birth anniversary

Theatre organisations across Dhaka and Jahangirnagar University are staging plays, discussions, processions and memorial programmes this week to mark the 77th birth anniversary of playwright and theatre practitioner Selim Al Deen.

The programmes, beginning today and continuing through August 21, bring together several generations of theatre practitioners around the work and legacy of one of the most influential figures in modern Bangladeshi theatre. Deen was born on August 18, 1949, and died in 2008.

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The Selim Al Deen Museum has organised a two-day programme at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Today, at 5pm, writer and academic Azfar Hussain will deliver a solo lecture titled “Alape Selim Al Deen o Natoker Rajniti” at the academy’s Studio Theatre Hall. At 7pm, the Drama and Dramatics Department of Jagannath University will stage Deen’s “Dhaboman” at the same venue.

Tomorrow, August 18, the organisation will join a procession at Jahangirnagar University at 10am before paying floral tribute at Deen’s grave on the campus.

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Dhaka Theatre and Bangladesh Gram Theatre have also arranged a three-day programme, beginning on August 18 with a floral tribute at Deen’s grave.

At 7pm that day, Dhaka Theatre will stage Deen’s “Nimajjan” at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff.

On August 19, Jahangirnagar University’s Department of Drama and Dramatics will stage “Johornama” at 7pm at the National Theatre Hall. Based on a story by Kazi Nazrul Islam, the play has been scripted and directed by Anan Zaman.

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The programme will conclude on August 20 with a 7 pm staging of “Eksathe Choli Eksathe Banchi”, written by A H Rajan and Rafiqul Islam and directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff. Sundaram, a theatre organisation of persons with disabilities, will perform the production.

Swapnadal has organised a separate three-day programme from August 18 to 20, beginning with a memorial procession from Jahangirnagar University’s Old Arts Building to Deen’s grave, followed by a floral tribute.

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On August 19 and 20, the troupe will stage Rabindranath Tagore’s “Chitrangada” and Deen’s “Hargaj”, with two performances of each production at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Both productions are directed by Zahid Repon.

The programmes reflect Deen’s enduring influence on Bangladeshi theatre. A founding figure of Dhaka Theatre, he later established the Department of Drama and Dramatics at Jahangirnagar University and developed a body of work deeply rooted in Bengali folk traditions and the lives of ordinary people. His major plays include “Kittonkhola”, “Chaka”, “Hargaj”, “Nimajjan” and “Jaibati Kanyar Mon”.