MAYAMRIDANGA

admin Bengali March 21, 2025 Comments Closed

Playwright & Director: Rakesh Ghosh
Group: Dum Dum Shabdomugdho Naatyokendra, Kolkata
Language: Bengali
Duration: 2 hrs 10 mins

The Play

Alkaap is a lost folk art of Bengal. Singing, dancing and acting are included in this form. In alkaap female actors are not allowed. The play is about an alkaap group where a boy from his childhood is trained to be a girl. As a norm he is called ‘Chhokra’. Jhaksu of Dhanpatnagar is the alkaap Ustad. He is in love with his Chhokra, Shanti. His younger wife forces Shanti to be physical. Jhaksu misunderstands and Shanti runs away. Another alkaap group has a Chhokra named Subarno. Everyone in the group desires him, but he loves his master, Sanatan, who in turn loves Sudha and wants to marry her. During a show at Rangamati, Jhaksu meets Subarno. Both are in a similar situation. Jhaksu decides to begin again with Subarno, but ….

Director’s Note

Based on a novel by Sayed Mustafa Siraj, one of the most creative minds in contemporary Bengali literature, this play seeks to explore a fast dying folk performing form. The interplay of intense longing and supreme fulfilment creates ‘Maya’. It takes on a complex, layered and nuanced meaning – stirring the shades of love, dependence, endearment, affection, desire, illusion and eroticism. It is a strange conflict between the body and the soul, the performing body and the performing spirit, the inner workings of the artist’s mind and its manifestation in performance.

The Director & Playwright

Rakesh Ghosh has done Masters in Bengali literature, from Calcutta University, and is a professional playwright and director in television, films and theatre. He is the founder member of Dum Dum Shabdomugdho Naatyokendra in 2006. He has worked with actors Shiv Mukhopadhyay, Seema Biswas, Soumitra Chatterjee, Dipankar Dey, Supriya Debi, Sabitri Chatterjee and others; directors Manoj Mitra, Sudipto Chattopadhyay, Agnideb Chattopadhyay, Manish Mitra, Sekhar Sammadar, Baishakhi Marjit, Kallol Bhattacharya; and organizations Natadha, Sanskar Bharati, Kasba Arghya, Kushilab, Avaash and Ebong Aamra. He is presently working with Star Jalsa for the serial Bajlo Tomar Aalor Benu, as story developer & script writer.

The Group

The journey of Dum Dum Shabdomugdho Naatyokendra started in 2006. The group was formed with the objective of making meaningful and entertaining theatre. In last nine years the organization has produced 16 contemporary productions and has performed in various auditoriums all over West Bengal. It has performed in urban as well as rural open-air spaces, from Kolkata to Purulia, Bakreswar to Santhaldihi, Burdwan to north 24 Parganas, from Assam to Odhisa, and even in Bangladesh. Besides performing, the group has organized theatre workshops for school students, theatre festivals, seminars, as well as felicitation for renowned theatre personalities. It has worked with various renowned theatre personalities like Chetna Jalan, Arun Mukhopadhyay, Manish Mitra, Gautam Halder, Arpita Ghosh, Chitra Sen, Chapal Bhadhuri, Kohinoor Sen Borat, Kallol Bhattacharya, Tapas Bouri, Nirmal Hazra, Robin Murmu Dhira Mallick (Odisha), Chitrabhanu Bhowmick (Assam) and Lucky Inam (Bangladesh).

Cast & Credits

Jhaksu Shyamashis Pahari

Sanatan Rakesh Ghosh

Sudha Sangita Pal

Chandra Mohan Soumen Dutta

Fajal Apurba Roy

Kalachand Samir Mukherjee

Shanti Aninda Roy

Bhanumoti Subir Sen

Anish Kamal Awan

Amir / Bahurup Debkanti Mahadani

Kader Jayesh Laha