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Padatik
Natya Sangsad a
drama group, founded in Dhaka on 21
January 1978 by the former workers of Kalantar Natyagosthi (1976). Padatik
started its activities with the motto 'Let drama be the weapon for the
struggle of life, let drama be the expression of life'. The objective of
this group is to enrich our culture and to sustain the spirit of the War of
Liberation. Padatik's first performance was jasimuddin's Sojan Bandiyar Ghat which was
staged in 1978 at the British Council Auditorium. The group then staged Kabar, a play based on a poem by Jasimuddin, in the same auditorium. Through the dramatised version of the poem, which tells the story
of an old man who has lost his wife whom he married while both were young, Padatik has revealed an intimate portrait of rural Bengal.
Ksyapa Paglar
Pyanchal, based on the War of
Liberation, was staged at the Central shaheed minar
in 1978. This play had a significant role in popularising
street plays in Bangladesh.
The play has been staged more than a hundred times both within and outside
Dhaka.
Manasar Pala,
another play based on a folk-tale written and directed by Kazi Rafiq was staged at the mahila samiti auditorium in
1980. In 1982 Padatik staged Ballabhpurer
Rupkatha, written by Badal
Sarkar and directed by Kamruzzaman
Runu. Ma, the translation of a play
written by Bertolt Brecht
and based on Maxim Gorky's Mother, was staged at the Mahila Samiti Auditorium in
1984. Shahina Akhter Kazal's performance, in the role of the mother, the
two-storied set design of Jamil Ahmed, the
lighting of Kamruzzaman Runu
and direction of Kamaluddin Nilu
were highly appreciated. Padatik has staged a
number of popular street plays. Among them are Ajker
Sangbad, directed by Kamaluddin,
Raja Canute, directed by Amal Roy, Chikitsa Bibhrat, directed by Parshuram,
and Chandravati directed by Kamruzzaman.
The activities of Padatik Natya
Samsad have spread outside Dhaka.
Padatik Natya Samsad, Narayanganj Branch,
was formed in Narayanganj in February 1980. This
branch has performed a number of street plays as well as staged regular
productions, among them, Mosaddek Ahmed's Tufan Aitiyachhe
- Sabdhan and Maharajar Abasthan,
Abdulla Al-Mamun's Araksita Matijhil,
Kazi Zakir Hasan's Rajay Rajay, Akram Hosain's Shes Drshyer Pare, etc.
Apart from various stage shows and street-play festivals held in
different districts including Dhaka and Chittagong, Padatik has taken part in different workshops and
discussions on drama. Padatik also plays an
active role in the activities of the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation. Web site is: www.padatik.com.
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