At the well-decorated lobby of the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), a large portrait of the late jatra icon Amalendu Biswas had been placed. The mood is festive. In association with BSA, Amalendu Biswas Smaranotshab Committee arranged a six-day festival as homage to the 'Ekushey Padak' recipient (posthumously) performer. Starting from October 10, the festival featured jatra pala, theatre and an award giving ceremony.
At the festival, Amalendu Biswas' troupe Charanika Jatra Shamaj staged two pala, including “Mahioshi Kaikeyi”. The pala sees Kaikeyi, one of the major characters from the epic "Ramayana," in a different light. Though Kaikeyi forces her husband King Dashrath to banish her stepson Ram, the pala delves into the probable reasons behind her actions. Based on the "Ayodhya Kanda," the pala highlights the eventual benefits of Kaikeyi's demands and portrays her as a benevolent woman. Jyotsna Biswas -- wife of Amalendu Biswas -- directed and played the protagonist in the pala. The cast also included veteran jatra artiste Milon Kanti Dey, Swapon Paul, Paritosh Saha, Babul Aktar and Banoshree.
Theatre and Aranyak Natyadal staged their productions “Meraj Fakir-er Ma” and “Ebong Bidyasagar” at the festival. This year, the organisers awarded internationally renowned playwright Sayeed Ahmed, theatre personality Nasiruddin Yousuff, journalist Shahin Reza Noor and Milon Kani Dey with the 'Amalendu Biswas Memorial Award'. The festival ended yesterday.