Condemned Cell

 About the Drama:

It is needed to mention that all the events and characters of the play “Condemned Cell” are fictional. The liberation war of 1971 is the most glorious moment of Bengali history, but before gaining the independence, the Bengal of fifty six thousand square mile area and sixty eight thousand villages were shattered and poisoned to blue because of the genocide and rape of women conducted by the brutal invader Pakistani Army with the direct help and participation of their associating homicide razakar, al bodor, al shams during the war, the playwright created a partial image of that situation in this play, except these events, all the other characters that drives the events of this drama are fictional. Yet, if any audience finds or discovers any resemblance between any event or character of the play with any living person or experience of own life, then he/she will carry all the liabilities. And those audience who won’t find any resemblance or won’t be able to discover any, will be able to return with impunity. The main intention of the play “Condemned Cell” is to search for those liable audiences. All the events of the drama occurs inside the Condemned Cell, where only the prisoners with death penalty can stay, according to the jail rule.

Director’s Word:

“Freedom, how old are you?
Mother said you are
Just one year younger than me
When I started taking one or two steps
After finishing the crawling period
At that time period
Pak hyena started to occupy.”

I don’t know how much these lines relate with the analysis of my work, however, these are the line that first came in my mind when I took the pen. I have seen the liberation war but don’t remember anything. As a result, I can’t say proudly that “I’m a child of independent Bangladesh” like a pupil of this generation says.
I entered my name in theatre at a child’s age. Then it was going good by acting in minor roles. Suddenly, I was instigated by my troupe to take the heavy duty of directing. ‘Inspired’ would have been a better word to hear. But I won’t use it because I never had any desire about giving direction on stage. But our troupe leader, Mr. Ananta Hira handed over me his script and said, “Have a look into this, you have to give direction if you like this one.” Mr. Ananta Hira is a very clever man. Read the script, and got mesmerized. He used the weakest point of mine. Grabbed the opportunity greedily. I took the decision of completing this task because of two reasons- firstly, the responsibilities of a theatre worker, and secondly, my liabilities to the society. I know it’s very challenging to exhibit the background of the play to the audiences of this time, and I took this challenge due to my love for theatre. I couldn’t participate in the liberation war. At least, I can stand beside the brave fighters in the fight against the current anti-independence minded people. I don’t understand progressive or conservative. I believe in the simple perception of Rabindranath Tagore- “Which is true is art, is beautiful.”
I didn’t confine myself in any sort of method or formation while directing this play. I tried to fluently present the demand of the playwright in front of the audience. Just like the way a maiden, sitting on a porch, makes perfect stitches on a nokshi kantha with her simplest thoughts. I don’t how much I can entertain you. But I enjoyed a lot doing this work.

The way all the colleagues of my troupe opened their helping door while doing this task, only showing gratitude will be a very small thing to that. Their debt is unpayable. Also, gratitude to those persons and institutions who helped us economically and in many other ways to make the play presentable on stage.
At the end, I have a special request to the current generation, be with the truth, be the bearer of our history and tradition. Only then the culture will be firmed, the country will move forward.

Awal Reza

21^st March, 2016

Premier Show: 01/04/2016
Venue: Jatio Nattyashala, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka.

 Cast and Crew list

Condemned Cell Casting List

On Stage

Back Stage