Chitrangada staged at Sonargaon Folk Festival

Societal Events Report :Popular theatre troupe, Swapnadal staged its much-acclaimed production Chitrangada, a play based on an epic story from Mahabharata, at the main stage of Bangladesh Folk Art and Crafts Foundation at Sonargaon in Narayanganj recently. Swapnadal staged the women-centric play conceptualised by Rabindranath Tagore on the occasion of International Women’s Day as part of the ongoing ‘Sonargaon Folk Festival 2014.’The brilliant performance of the theatre troupe, appropriate music and authentic costumes made the drama a must-watch for the audience. The play tells the story of Chitrangada, the warrior princess of Manipur. Chitrangada has been written by Rabindranath Tagore when he was 31 years old. However, Tagore brought the play to stage as a lyrical dance drama in 1936, at the age of 75. Since then, Chitrangada has been staged extensively in many parts of Bangladesh and Pashchimbanga of India and gained acclaim as a dance drama. It may be mentioned that no theatre troupe has staged the play as a theatrical production before Swapnadal. Directed by Zahid Repon, Chitrangada is the 11th production of the theatre troupe. In the play, Sonali Rahman Julie and Farjana Rahman Mita played the roles of Chitrangada as Shurupa and Kurupa, while the role of Arjun was performed by Mostafizur Rahman. The major cast of the play included Shishir Sikder, Monir Hossain, Shukonna Amir, Afrin Anu and Asif Istiyar, among others. The play begins with Chitrangada – a princess expert in warfare – who has no intention to lead the life of a common lady. But, fortune frowns on her. Being acquainted with Arjun, Chitrangada, the legendary princess in the epic Mahabharata, falls in love with him who is in his 11th year of exile. As a Brahmachari, Arjun refuses her love. Another reason for refusing her may be she is not strikingly beautiful. Brokenhearted, Chitrangada who is also termed Kurupa ask Madana, the god of love, and Vasanta, the spirit of spring, to grant her a woman’s alluring beauty to seduct Arjuna at least for one day. Impressed with her prayer, the god of love blesses her with a new formation, granting a beautiful appearance as Shurupa for a year so that she can impress Arjun. Seeing her dazzling beauty, Arjun falls in love with the transformed princess. Thus, the story reaches its climax when Arjun feels a dire urge to meet the Kurupa form of Chitrangada for her bravery. At this, Shurupa calls on Madan to transform her into her own self.