Skip to content Skip to navigation

‘Jonakar Pohar’ staged at Surya

Socio-cultural organization Aikyatan brought its 40th anniversary celebration to Surya’s intimate stage with the staging of a new play titled ‘Jonakar Pohar’ recently. The play evoked genuine curiosity amongst the city’s film and theater community before it’s enactment on stage. And the play really exceeds expectations as it turned out to be a true celebration of an incredible 40-year-old journey. The occasion actually turned out to be a reunion of sorts for some of the surviving members who once acted and worked behind the scenes for the pioneering organization.

Well-known musician Kishore Giri trudges along with his trademark guitar, and sets the initial tone by paying tribute to Aikyatan’s founder-member Pabitra Kumar Deka, intimate members Krisnamurty Hazarika, Indra Bania, Surajit Gogoi, Loknath Subba among others. Giri, who is fortunate enough to have spent several years in the shadows of these former stalwarts, spoke about their contributions over the years, with a tinge of nostalgia. The torch has now been passed on to new generation, who despite their busy schedules and commitments, has to carry forward the legacy. After nearly two decades, Aikyatan has started staging plays with last year’s ‘Apekhyat’ on Surya’s intimate stage.
           
Apart from it’s interesting theme, there was something about this new play, just so full of life, that look quite akin to our culture. ‘Jonakar Pohar’ based on Irish playwright Lady Gregory’s ‘The Rising of the Moon’, seamlessly pulls the audience around a wave of Irish patriotic fervour and nationalistic songs.
           
The play opens with three Irish policemen, working for the British authorities, pasting a poster for an escaped political convict. The policemen discuss the large reward of 100 pound they will receive for the criminal’s capture. He asks his younger assistants to post more leaflets around town while he stays around to guard the harbor where he thinks a ship is bound to take the rebel to freedom. The Sergeant played by Mrinal Das remains on the stage throughout the play and grips the attention of the audience.
           
Soon, a poor artiste by the name of Walsh who makes a living singing songs of Ireland, engages the Sergeant in a conversation which drifts towards the past. He croons a few ballads to the protesting Sergeant, who only wanted to keep the area clear so he could catch the fleeing prisoner if he appeared.
           
The Sergeant begins to think of the fate of the fugitive in comparison to his own. He thinks about the friends of his youth, and the circumstances, which could have placed him in the position of hiding from the police in the dark.
           
The Sergeant, overwhelmed with patriotic feelings, undergoes a change of heart with the disguised rebel. He even joins Walsh in singing a popular patriotic song, obviously moved by the prevailing mood.
           
After eventually discovering that Walsh is indeed the criminal everyone was looking for, he performs his complicity with the nationalist movement by letting him hide behind a row of drums located in the harbor.
           
He may have purely noble and idealistic reasons for doing so, but the Sergeant allows Walsh to escape from the place, putting paid to any hopes of acquiring the hefty sum. He is deeply moved by memories of his own patriotic youth.
           
A proud race, the Irish lived beneath real oppression once, and yearned for freedom. One can perceive a deep conflict between the hearts of the characters. The play’s dramatist herself had been a witness to the violent uprisings in Dublin. The play draws perceptive insights from her own personal experiences and observations. ‘Jonakar Pohar’ is suffused with traditional and sentimental songs.
           
Like last year’s ‘Apekhyat’, Aikyatan’s new production delighted the audience who settled into comfortable intimacy right from the very beginning. ‘Junakor Puhor’ gets a fresh lease of life under the direction of Prodyut Kumar Deka, who has also done the difficult job of translating it into Assamese, seasoned artistes Juwan Dutta and Mrinal Das, and the music direction of Kishore Giri. Aikyatan is fortunate to have artistes like Mrinal Das and Juwan Dutta on board to bring the characters of the Sergeant and Walsh to life. Dutta is capable of playing just about any character to perfection. He also displayed his rare musical sense by pulling off all the songs in his eloquent voice. On the other hand, Mrinal Das threw himself into his part with comfortable ease. Kamal Paran and Niharika Sarma were quite adequate in the characters of police constables. Kishore Giri provides effective backing with his voice and guitar throughout the play.
           
There was also on view an exhibition of some of Aikyatan’s old photographs that took everyone down memory lane, at the premises of Surya.
 




Author info

Prantik Deka's picture

Prantik Deka. Email: prantikdeka@gmail.com

Add new comment

Random Stories

Steps on to deal with H1N1

4 Mar 2015 - 9:18pm | AT News
The Assam government is fully prepared to deal with the swine flu outbreak. This was what health minister Dr Nazrul Islam told the Assam Assembly on Wednesday after the state registered five cases of...

BJP accepted money: Narah

13 Feb 2014 - 8:49pm | AT News
In yet another revelations on the recent Rajyya Sabha polls, Union minister Ranee Narah accused BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal of accepting a huge amount of bribe from Congress.Narah said on...

Students hospitalized in Baksa

29 Aug 2019 - 10:33pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
KOKRAJHAR: At least 16 students hospitalised post consuming  medicines to control worming at Digaldonga in Baksa district on Thursday. According to information, students from BC Vidyapith ME...

IIT-Guwahati Director in the line of fire

13 Jun 2012 - 3:24am | editor
IIT-Guwahati Director Gautam Barua draws flak from IITs’ faculties on Tuesday for supporting Kapil Sibal who has proposed 'one-nation one-test' for entry into them and other institutes.All...

Other Contents by Author

The 106th birth anniversary of legendary Assamese musician Purushottam Das was recently observed in a glittering function organised by the Amguri Puberun Cultural Organisation of Sivasagar district and Sangeet Khanikor Purushottam Das Smriti Raksha Samiti, Guwahati, in collaboration with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Govt of Assam, at the premises of Amguri Auniatia Hemchandra Dev Higher Secondary School. The function started off with the lighting of the traditional lamp by the principal of the school, Amarjyoti Borthakur, who delivered a brief speech. The state's eminent music director and composer Ramen Choudhury, who is an adviser of the Smriti Raksha Samiti, laid a wreath at the...
Guwahati: The trailer and poster for 'Baruar Xongxar' (The House of Baruas), a documentary highlighting the renowned Assam-type house at Latasil in Guwahati and its influential occupants, were released on November 11, 2023. The 71-minute film, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari, will have its world premiere at the 54th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, under the Indian Panorama section. The poster and trailer launch, attended by legendary musician Ramen Barua and eminent singer Dwipen Barua, took place at the centennial house. Producers Nayan Prasad, Jemini Phukan, and Dibyajyoti Saharia, from Surjya and Jemini Phukan Production, joined the event...
Guwahati: The timeless Assamese classic 'Auto-Rickshaw Chalao Ami Duyu Bhai', originally penned and composed by legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika in the 1970s, has been revitalized with the release of a new music video titled 'Dignity of Labour.' Directed by Ashok Bora and produced by Pranabjyoti Neog, the video was officially launched at the Guwahati Press Club on November 5, commemorating Dr Bhupen Hazarika's 12th death anniversary. Notable personalities, including novelist Leena Sharma, Manoj Saikia, chairman of Assam Livestock and Poultry Corporation, and vocalist Mausumi Saharia, attended the event. The original song, sung by Dr Bhupen Hazarika and his brother Jayanta...
Assam down town University, a leading private educational institution in North East India, is set to introduce an Undergraduate Certificate Program in Film Appreciation, aiming to enrich students' aesthetic and entertainment perspectives. The meticulously designed six-month course will impart fundamental knowledge about the art of filmmaking and emphasize the critical appreciation of cinema. Dr. N. C. Talukdar, the Vice-Chancellor of Assam down town University, mentioned that the course will initially be accessible to university students. Following the initial phase, the program will be extended to external students, film enthusiasts, and professionals within the film industry. Dr....
Joydeep Goswami, a composer and singer from Assam, has made a striking debut as a film producer with his Hindi movie ‘Ginti’ (The Countdown). The psychological horror thriller has received critical acclaim at film festivals globally, including the Cannes Film Festival 2023 and the Lift-Off Film Festival 2023. The film explores the mind of a contract killer struggling with schizophrenia. It's directed by M Durga Prasad and praised for its gripping narrative. Goswami is well-known for his music career, with popular albums and singles under his belt. He established his production house JD Motion Pictures, and with the help of a talented creative team, brought the idea for ‘Ginti’ to life....
A launch event was held in Guwahati to celebrate the release of Saurav Kumar Das's latest book, "Jalukbarit Mur Xunuwali Otit". Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury, former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University, released the book during the ceremony. The book is an autobiographical memoir of the author's memories of the 1970s spent in Jalukbari, also known as the country of Krishnachura. Dr. Amarjyoti Choudhury, in his keynote speech, praised the author's ability to capture the essence of the bygone era and show reverence to Gauhati University. He also mentioned the opportunity for authors to enter the new literature that is being produced globally through writing such an autobiographical work....
The Roopkar Awards, instituted in honor of distinguished cine-journalist and litterateur Pabitra Kumar Deka, were presented to acclaimed actor of theatre and cinema Pranjal Saikia and National Award-winning filmmaker Mridul Gupta for the years 2021 and 2022, respectively, during a ceremony held at the Pabitra Kumar Deka Archive on January 5th. These awards, given out every two years, were presented by the state's distinguished litterateur and former editor of Asomiya Pratidin, Nitya Bora. In his keynote speech, Bora highlighted Pabitra Kumar Deka's significant and noteworthy contributions to Assamese culture and literature. He stated, "Pabitra Kumar Deka has written extensively on a...
Get ready for the much-awaited music video of 'Xur Tumi' to be released soon! After serving more than 15 years as an officer in the Indian Navy, Assam born and bred Tirthank Nath returned to his hometown Dhing in Nagaon district this year after taking voluntary retirement. He had always pursued his deep-seated passion for songwriting, but began to pursue it professionally after he took over his family business. After serving for many years, he felt a strong desire to be with his family and felt that it was important for him to be there for them. Tirthank has an innate talent for writing beautiful songs. His initial success as a songwriter came last year with the song 'Xuworoni...
In very heartening news, the Assamese animation film titled ‘Mahapurush Sri Sri Madhabdeva" has been receiving high praise and critical acclamation in various film festivals held around the world. The film, produced by Ramani Chitramm Memorial Trust, is conceptualised, scripted and directed by the noted promoter, preserver of Sattriya culture and philanthropist, the late Dalim Pathak. It has always been Dalim Pathak’s endeavour to disseminate and promote the philosophy of saints Sankardeva, and his faithful disciple Madhabdeva, the creator of the epoch-making – Naam Ghosa. The film has bagged Best Animation Film at the prestigious Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival, 2022, for...
A packed audience was regaled by a stimulating cultural show at the Dr. Banikanta Kakati Auditorium of Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati on 17 July, 2022. Like the previous years, the students of the Murchana Music Education Centre captivated audiences with their instrumental and vocal performances of Assamese, Hindi and western music. Since 2000, Murchana Music Education Centre has been providing training to a number of students in the city in guitar, piano, keyboard, violin and vocal music. Affiliated with the Musicea Arts and Culture Council, the music institute, run by its dedicated teacher and principal Hiranya Kalita and its better-half Barnali Kalita, always strives to provide...