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Lalsalu
Director's Note
It is indeed a challenge for me to deal with the complex novel written by the great international novelist Sayed Walliullah. The novelist is famous for his solitary composition. But Lalshalu has a different focus all together. It seems an attack on the superstitious Muslim society which is represented by the character Majid who is the protagonist of the novel.
The pseudo of Muslim Society is certainly the focus in the text but what initially attracted me as a director is the author’s approach towards the positive side of Modernism.
The process started from dramatising the text and the responsibility was given to Koushik Chatterjee. After reading the dramatic script I was sure that this is the play I am looking forward to do at this point of my life. I realized that I have chosen the most topical subject noticing the growing fundamentalism worldwide. During the process of making the play I strongly realized that theatre can transport us to a different world -a world where magic is possible. Dealing with this big canvas performance text I tried my best not to depart too much from the original text. I stitched the performance through music- music of my heart and soul which is absolutely internal.
Synopsis
The novel starts with the description of (Mohobbotnagar) village and the difficulties of village life. A clever man named Majid arrives in the village and realizes that most of the men in the village are simple minded and can easily be fooled through religious superstitions. Majid starts scolding the villagers claiming that they haven’t taken care of the grave of the Mudassir Pir (fake name given by Majid to make his intention come true) and tells them a made up story of a pir (Religious magician) showed him a dream that his grave is not being taken care of and that the people of that area are sinners. Almost every one of the village believed Majid’s story including the so called head of the village, Khalek Bepari. Majid makes a good impression on everyone in the village including Khalek Bepari. The villagers repair the grave, made a majar (Shrine) and a house for Majid. Majid then starts living there and becomes wealthy by fooling the people of the village with the means of fake religious teachings. Majid also marries Rahima, a widowed lady who is a cowardly and obedient wife. Majid faces many problems as few people go against him such as Hasuni’s father, Khalek Bepari’s senior wife, Akkas Mia for establishing a school and the arrival of a great Pir in Awalpur. But very cunningly he solves all these problems. Majid later also marries a teen girl (as a second wife), who later on get punished for going against Majid’s false teachings which results in her eventual tragedy.
There is a fakir who comes in all scene and is a positive counterpart of Majid and generates notion a universal friendship.
Majid’s true character is slowly revealed throughout the story.
Premiered On: 24th June 2018
Cast of Lalsalu
- Majid Miya: Biplab Bandyopadhyay
- Majid’s Mother: Bhaswati Mukherjee
- Rahima Bibi: Shristi Gupta
- Jamila Bibi: Sweta Bagchi
- Fakir: Subhashis Gangopadhyay
- Old Man and Dudu Miya: Asit Dey
- Akkas: Pritam Bhattacharya
- Khalek Miya: Amit Chattopadhyay
- Dhala Miya: Babin Das
- Taher: Shatadal Chakraborty
- Kaher: Gourab Bhatta
- Taher and Kaher’s Mother: Anindita Das
- Taher and Kaher’s Father: Argha Mukkhopadhyay
- Solemn: Sandeep Debnath
- Father of Solemn: Kaushik Ghosh
- Pir Baba: Subhasish Chakraborty
- Assistant of Pir Baba: Karna Chakraborty and Raktim Mondal
- Hasuni: Samadrita Chatterjee
- Hasuni’s Mother: Jhumur Saha
- Amina Bibi: Payel Mukkhopadhyay
- Atifa: Priyanka Dey
- Old Woman: Debashree Aich
- Tanu Bibi: Srijeeta Dutta
- Villagers: Ananya Bhatta and Ankur Roy
Creative Co-ordinator
- Light Design – Dipak Mukhopadhyay
- Costume – Asit Dey
- Costume Assistance- Shatadal Chakraborty
- Set Construction – Ranjit Deb
- Makeup – Sk. Israfil
- Lettering – Probir Sen
Creative Co-ordinator
- Light Design – Dipak Mukhopadhyay
- Costume – Asit Dey
- Costume Assistance- Shatadal Chakraborty
- Set Construction – Ranjit Deb
- Makeup – Sk. Israfil
- Lettering – Probir Sen
Creative Co-ordinator
- Light Design – Dipak Mukhopadhyay
- Costume – Asit Dey
- Costume Assistance- Shatadal Chakraborty
- Set Construction – Ranjit Deb
- Makeup – Sk. Israfil
- Lettering – Probir Sen
Technical Co-ordinator
- Makeup Assistance – Mitali Sarkar
- Light Execution – Debashish Chakraborty
- Music Execution – Subrata Bose/ Santanu Chattopadhyay
Production Co-ordinator
- Requisition – Jhumur Saha, Anindita Das, Srishti Gupta, Srijita Dutta
- Peripheral Assitance – Partha Mukhopadhyay
- Assistant Director – Santanu Chattopadhyay
- Music, Set and Direction – Abanti Chakraborty