To celebrate the 100th performance of their acclaimed production Khona, theatre group BotTala organised a two-day cultural festival, which opened on Friday at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka.
Their third production, Khona, was written by Samina Luthfa and directed by Mohammad Ali Haider.
It premiered on March 8, 2010, at the same venue.
The festival comprised folk performances, musical events, documentary screening, and a fair displaying books, food, and crafts, along with various events for children, including an art camp and puppet shows.
A photography exhibition featuring photos of the play was also held at the venue.
A panel discussion titled Khonar Alap was held on the evening of the opening day. Moderated by Samina Luthfa, it featured rights activists Shirin Haque and Khushi Kabir, Bangladesh Garment Sramik Samhati president Taslima Akhter, theatre activist Samiun Jahan Dola, Faiz Zahir, actor-director Taukir Ahmed, and Abu Sayed Tulu.
BotTala will stage the 100th performance of Khona today in the evening. The play portrays women’s struggles against patriarchy and the tragic story of the ancient astrologer Lilabati, who is also known as Khona.
Kazi Roksana Ruma, Samina Luthfa, Imran Khan Munna, Evan Riaz, Taufique Hassan, Mizanur Rahman, Humayun Azam Rewaz, Abdul Kader, Sheyuti Shahgufta, Mahabub Masum, Pankaj Majumder, Kamaruzzaman Sayeed, and Shahnewaj Efte and others played various characters in the play, which has appeared at numerous national and international theatre festivals.
