Nabarasa brings 'Sojan Badiar Ghat' to the stage on Bailey Road on November 6

The dance and theatre troupe Nabarasa is bringing Palli Kabi Jasimuddin's poetry book 'Sojan Badiar Ghat' to the stage. It is Nabarasa's fifth production.

The opening performance will be held on November 6 at 7 p.m. at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Mahila Samity on Bailey Road in the capital.

The story is built around the people of Shimultoli village, where Hindus and Muslims have lived side by side for a long time. Though separate in religion, they are bound by brotherhood, and the whole village is like one family.

Sojan and Duli, two teenagers from different faiths in that village, have been playmates and close companions since childhood. But when communal conflict spreads through the village over time, their sweet relationship turns into separation, bringing a tragic outcome into their lives.

Syeda Shamsi Ara Sayeka has adapted the poetry book into a play and directed it. She said many troupes have staged 'Sojan Badiar Ghat' before; Padatik Nattya Sangsad staged it first, and she was a member of Padatik then and has been connected with the play ever since.

Sayeka said the play is being staged again under Nabarasa's banner because of the present social context. In her words, religious conflict, complexity and superstition have become pronounced among people today, but a person's real identity should be their work; the book speaks about religion through love, which makes it feel highly relevant now.

In adapting the poems into a play, the original subject has been kept intact with some refinement. Three songs have been added in keeping with the story, and all three were written by Syeda Shamsi Ara Sayeka.

Yusuf Russell or Shahin Alam Jibon will play Sojan, and Shamsi Ara Sayeka or Nilima Rashed will play Duli. Kashfi Alfi Ahmed will play the young Sojan and Afia Zaman Srija will play the young Duli.