Indigenous Performing Art Festival
'Shongjatra': Art form with a touch of humour
Ershad Kamol
The rural artistes in Bangladesh, who are basically occupied with other professions, perform several jatra forms developed through improvisation. The presentation style of Shongjatra, developed and performed by the rural artistes, is unlike that of the typical jatraplas performed by the professional artistes. Usually the presentation style of typical jatrapala, which acquired its present form during the British colonial era, is greatly influenced by the European theatre concept. However, according to the experts, we have traditional jatra forms, which are not crafted like Shakespearean five act-drama, nor is the presentation style akin to the typical jatrapala. Nipen Pal, a potter by profession, and his troupe staged Shongjatra at the Experimental Theatre Stage on February 23. The troupe from Kalihati, Tangail, presented Shongjatra, titled Boiragi, as part of the ongoing seven-day indigenous performing art form festival arranged by the Department of Theatre and Film of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. If someone analyses the name of the art form one finds that it is basically Shonger jatra (jatra presented by clowns). As a result, in a Shongjatra, the clowns or jokers through the jeers and meaningless dialogue and activities skillfully take the audience into the embedded sorrow and depth of the story. And the artistes appear on stage with 'painted face' and their performance may be labeled as 'exaggeration', but not at all irritating, rather entertaining. Nipen Pal's troupe in its Boiragi jatra has touched many debated current issues with a touch of humour such as 'price hike', 'land grabbing', 'birth registration act' and 'dowry system'. And the use of glasses and costumes by the actors suggest the ongoing 'fusion process' of the indigenous performing art forms at the root level. Bhojan Pal as a joker performed exceptionally well in the show.
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Actors in a scene from Shongjatra. PHOTO: STAR |
