ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio USA

December 27, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations): Amidst reports of lessened militancy and greater number of tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir in the recent past, theatrical representations of the truth are still seeking to find an answer to pertinent issues that plague the socio-cultural-economic and political scenario in the valley of dreams.

One such dramatic representation is ‘Archeekaal’, put up in the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, as a part of Nandikar’s 28th National Theater Festival on December 24, 2011.

Based on the script authored by Syed Yaqoob Dilkash and supported by Roshan Art center, the director, Mr.Reshi Rashid has attempted a factual portrayal of Kashmir, as it stands today. Viewing at the condition of the state from all important perspectives, the play also explores the causes of the never-ending strife, threatening to push the ‘Heaven on Earth’ as far back in times, as possible.

December 24, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations):The directorial genius of Mamunur Rashid and his insights on the Santal Revolt in Northern Bangladesh comes out most clearly in the critically acclaimed stage production by Aranyak, ‘Rarang’ or the Battle Cry.

On 21 December, 2011, the theater-happy crowd of Kolkata was treated with yet another enthralling edition of this stage act at the Academy of Fine Arts, put up as a part of the Nandikar’s 28th National Theater Festival.

Enacted for more than a 100th time in a row, Rarang is a heart-wrenching depiction of the oppression that the Santals of Vimpur (a village in Naogaon) were put through – by the ruling Bengalis in 1947, with allusions to the Santal Revolt of 1855 during British Raj.

Inspired by the real life story of Alfred Shoren, the tribal leader who set an example of brave rebellion against the feudalism and racism, the play is enriched by the performances of veteran stage actors, like Tomalika Karmaker and Chanchal Chowdhury, apart from a memorable stint by the director himself.

Read the complete Bengali drama (Bangla Natok) review at WBRi.

Calcutta, Dec 20, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations) Noted Indian theater actor-director and head of the Kolkata-based internationally renowned Nandikar drama troupe Rudraprasad Sengupta shares some of his thoughts behind the 2011 Nandikar's National Theater Festival - the 28th consecutive year the landmark event in Indian theater is being successfully organized.

Sengupta emphasizes the ability of theater to break the boundaries of language and cultures constricting mankind to specific chunks of civilization, and shares with us how one of the best plays he has had an opportunity to watch was in Poland in the Polish language, which he could follow in spite of knowing only a couple of words of the language.

Speaking during the inauguration of the 28th edition of the Nandikar National Theatre Festival (full report here), the man who took Nandikar from a theater group to a social institution for theater spoke about how the art of theater doesn’t just need revival for its aesthetic beauty but also its power as a social tool.

Listen to Sengupta online via WBRi on-demand radio broadcast service.

December 19, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations): Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata will take the center stage for city theater-goers from December 16 to December 25, 2011 as Nandikar’s 28th National Theater Festival prepares to woo the audience with its ensemble of 19 performances by national and international theater groups. Read our exclusive report from the inauguration of the festival and check out our image gallery.

Calcutta, Dec 2, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / Penning Creations) The first phase of the 11th Natyamela ends with the dream of an International Drama festival in Kolkata.

The 11th edition of the statewide culture fest of West Bengal, Natyamela came to a conclusion on November 30, Wednesday at the Rabindra Sadan auditorium.

An evening that started with the Natyamela theme song, it was a rendezvous of sorts with the presence of many eminent theatre personalities and Kolkata’s cultural frats coming together to commemorate Bengal’s rich theatrical heritage. Organized by the Paschimbanga Natya Akademi, a part of the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs of the West Bengal Government, this event had the honorable Chief Minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee stimulating the crowd with her encouraging words.

Setting the tempo for the evening, there were beautiful artworks and stage décor that was perfectly in-sync with the mood of the event. The event kick started with the entry of the CM, accompanied by the multi-faceted theatre persona and presently the higher education minister of the state, Bratya Basu. Ambarish Bhattacharya, a popular TV actor, welcomed the CM with a song. The presence of crème de la crème of theatre, husband-wife duo, Rudra Prasad Sengupta and Swatilekha Sengupta and Shaoli Mitra, the current Chairperson of the Committee for Heritage and Culture, lent to the evening an exclusively theatrical charm.

Read the full report and check out WBRi exclusive pictures.