Feature

BRAC University's Annual Drama-Hirak Rajar Deshe

Nazia Ahmed

"Dori dhore maro taan! Raja hobe khaan khaan!", the famous line depicting the uprise of the people in Hirak Rajjo, and the statue shattering into pieces is Satyajit Ray's Famous scene from his creation Hirak Rajar Deshe. Satyajit Ray is a name that needs no formal introduction and is synonymous with the world of cinema.

A beautiful November evening was festooned by the Drama and Theater forum of BRAC university, where the students staged the club's annual Drama Hirak Rajar Deshe at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on the 27th.

The show started with the VC Prof. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury's words and a formal introduction of the drama by director Obaidullah Al-Zakir.

Hirak Rajar Deshe is a story of a tyrant king, who owns a diamond mine, compels the working class to work hard and pay huge sum of tax. The musician duo of Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne make a comeback in this sequel, where they are invited to the court of the Hirak Raja for their musical skills. They have to perform at the kingdom's Jubilee Celebrations. However, coming to the kingdom, they use their natural goodness and curiosity to find out that all is not well in the country. There is exploitation of poor farmers and diamond-miners. There are sycophant courtiers and ruthless armies. And there is a mad scientist with this Brainwashing machine. With the help of an upright schoolmaster, Goopy and Bagha set out to correct the evils... with the help of their ghost-given skills, fast thinking and an impish sense of humour.

The main characters Moin as Gupi and Roni as Bagha and Roni as Hirak Raja did a splendid job throughout the drama and got lots of applause. One of the best scenes in the drama was the part where The king's men visit a school and order the teacher to stop teaching by quoting rhymes like "Lekha Pora Kore Je, Onahare More she"(one who studies dies out of hunger)," Janar kono shesh nai, janar cheshta britha tai" (there is no end to knowing, so no use trying).

The acting of the group was admirable and was aided by sound effects. Overall, the play and all aspects of it were executed with precision and quality. It was mostly because their acting was not affected by the funny comments from the audiences. Aarong, Brac Bank sponsored the show in association with Mercantile Bank, Prime Bank, Tele-talk, Southtech and Dhaka Bank.