Ferdousi Majumdar receives her crest; M Hamid (left) seen next to her (above). A scene from “Janomanko”.Photo: Mumit M.

The weeklong theatre festival by Padatik Natya Sangsad (TSC) began at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on April 6. Titled 'Syed Badruddin Hossain Smriti Natyatshab O Smarok Shammanona 2011', the festival marks the 88th birth anniversary of the troupe's founding president, Syed Badruddin Hossain.
On the occasion, Padatik also honoured leading theatre activists and actors Ferdousi Majumdar and M Hamid with Badruddin Hossain Memorial Award.
The festival features 14 plays by 13 troupes. On the opening day, Dhaka Theatre and Padatik staged their respective productions “Dhaboman” and “Janomanko” at National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall, BSA.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs, Advocate Pramod Mankin, inaugurated the festival as chief guest. Kamal Lohani, director general of BSA and Liakat Ali Lucky, chairman, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation were special guests. Nihad Kabir, convener of the festival committee, delivered the welcome speech, while Syed Tasnin Hossain, president of Padatik, presided over the ceremony.
Dhaka Theatre's “Dhaboman” was written by Selim Al Deen and has been directed by Shimul Yousuf. The protagonist of the play is a buffalo named Sohrab.
Sohrab's owner Nahbat raises him not as a farm animal, but as his own child. Sohrab grows up to be a powerful animal and Nahbat takes great pride in him. Nahbat's physically challenged son, Eshak dreams that he will be cured if the buffalo is sacrificed. Unable to deny his fatherly obligations, Nahbat, with a heavy heart, finally decides to sacrifice Sohrab.
But the beast breaks free and runs away.
Shimul Yousuf played the role of Bibek (conscience). Esha Yousuff played Sohrab the buffalo. Shahiduzzaman Selim, Chandan Chowdhury, Rosy Siddiqui, Jayasree Bandyopadhaya and Asaduzzaman Aman played other major roles.
Nasirul Haque Khokon was the light designer of the production. Music and set design were done by Shimul Yousuf.
Padatik's “Janomanko” was written by Nasrin Mustafa and has been directed by Mir Mehbub Alam Nahid. The cast includes Kamrul Hasan, Genia Azad, Ekramul Islam, Walid Khan and Aklima Aktar.
Faiz Zahir did the light designing, while Ali Ahmed Mukul did the set and costume design for the play.
Today, Subachan will stage “Mahajoner Nao” at the Experimental Theatre Hall and Theatre Workshop (from Kolkata) will stage two plays -- “Buro Shaliker Ghare Ro” and “Boshikaron” -- at the National Theatre Hall.