ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

Mumbai, India (Washington Bangla Radio / Free-Press-Release.com) After watching the film ‘Rakht Charitra’ one could only hate the villainous character played by ‘Abhimanyu Singh’. Of course it was only because of his performance that one actually got fixated with his character. Later too, he bagged a Star Dust award for his negative role in the film ‘Gulaal’.

Kolkata February 23, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations) Tapan Theater has witnessed a long history of notable stage performances by renowned troupes. However on 22nd of February, 2012, the situation was slightly different as the audience was greeted to performers of a special kind.

The members of troupe ‘Maru Behag’ and the inmates of Alipore Central Correctional Home and Alipore Women’s Correctional Home performed Rabindranath Tagore’s seminal masterpiece ‘Choker Bali’ on stage.

The play was performed to celebrate the 150th birth centenary of one of the most influential figures of Bengali literature. However, one does not often get to watch stage performances by inmates of a correctional house, but watching them perform passionately on stage surely lifted our spirits.

For people who have been deprived of a more traditional course of life, their rendition of the Tagore novel appeared even more remarkable. They performed with unprecedented fervor, completely oblivious of the numerous police personnel that surveyed the area and formed a part of their audience. The freewheeling performance of the cast pleased many and one could occasionally catch curious eyes popping in and out of the auditorium.

Read our full review of the unique performance of Bangla natok "Chokher Bali".

Calcutta, February 11, 2012 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations): Did you ever think why you keep a fast on a certain festival? When you go for “anjali” (offering to God) in different temples or puja pandals, did you even try to find out the meaning of the Sanskrit chanting that you repeat after the priest? Did you ask yourself why you make a hefty donation in the temples when a number of beggars are sitting right outside pleading for a penny or two?

If your answer to these questions is “NO” then “Krishan vs. Kanhaiya” is a must watch for you!!! If “YES” then you are already in sync with our story tellers and will be thoroughly enjoying this show!!! This Paresh Rawal starrer play was enacted for the 4th time in Kolkata at Vidyamandir auditorium on February 10th.

The theater production compels you to question the customs which you have followed till date. This is the story of an atheist, Krishanlal Mehta who owned an antique store. He used to sell various worthless items at exorbitant prices by adding a religious angle to them, which always was untrue (a piece of long cloth was sold by him to someone as Draupadi’s sari). This shrewd business man is only one facet of his personality as otherwise he is a responsible and caring husband, a true friend and a man who only went by logic.

His life turned topsy-turvy when his shop was destroyed in an earthquake and his insurance claim was declined. It was said that earthquake is an act of God and insurance claims can be approved only for man-made disasters. Infuriated by this, he files a case in the court against God. The plea was: If his shop was destroyed by God, either he or any of his representatives like the temples or the religious organizations must compensate for the loss but if it is proven that there is no existence of God the insurance company is accountable to pay him the money.

Read the complete review of Paresh Rawal's play Krishan vs Kanhaiya on WBRi.

Good News for all the fans of Teni da and Narayan Gangopadhyay. Oikyo Natyo Goshti is bringing back the charm of Teni da to the people of Calcutta. 

December 27, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations): Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

Here we have a woman who is wronged, scorned, abused and yet there’s no hellfire to scorch her tormenters. We’re only left with a subdued sense of victory as Madhabi emerges triumphant, after what seems like ages of continuous torture. Willful submission to a father’s charitable wishes, a lover’s dutiful words and cursed by what was supposedly her boon, leads protagonist to a journey against her Self – till she finally manages to find her stand.

We’re talking about ‘Madhabi’, a masterpiece by Bhisham Sahni, adapted to Bangla by Swatilekha Sengupta, also the director of this poignant tale of a woman suffering at the hands of shallow pride, hollow duties and hypocritical values.