Theatre troupe BotTola is staging their popular production Khona at the EMK Center in Dhanmondi on Wednesday at 7pm.
Through this collaboration between EMK and BotTola, the production is bringing the widely acclaimed play to the residents of Dhanmondi and the surrounding areas. Two more performances will be staged on September 19 and 20 at 7pm.
The mythology surrounding “Khona” is well known in Bengali folklore. A body of ancient agricultural knowledge which includes weather predictions, popularly called Khona’s Sayings (Khonar Bochon), has been passed from generation to generation through a continuous oral tradition for more than 1500 years. Khona’s sayings are usually short verses that are easy to remember yet profound in their wisdom and accuracy. In Khona’s time, her practice of simplifying knowledge to teach peasants and challenging royal decrees in favor of the farmers was not looked upon favorably by the ruling class.
Her rebellious nature eventually led to the tragic punishment of elinguation – cutting out the tongue. Originally named Lila, she is referred to by the name of “Khona” – the one who cannot speak. In a wonderfully ironic twist of history, her verses have survived for over 1500 years and Khona still speaks to us.
About the production director Mohammad Ali Haider comments: “Khona is about the agricultural knowledge of Bangladesh and explains about that the society’s state, which has not changed in the last 1500 years. Still now women are being suppressed by the patriarchal society.
Our society cruelly stifles a woman’s desire, along with religion and the social structure that has a stronghold on the position of women.
The tragedy will be performed in an arena platform, surrounded by the audience. The performance would be presented in a lively manner, as the performers would greet the audience and interact with the viewers. We wanted to come out from the traditional manner of stage shows by presenting the drama in a different manner. I hope the audience would appreciate our effort.”
“Khona” will be performed by Samina Luthfa Nitra, who is also the script writer of the play. Rest of the cast includes Kazi Ruksana Parvin Ruma, Imran Khan Munna, Mohammad Ali Haider, Mizanur Rahman, Abdul Kader, Chandan Paul, Taufique Hasan, Nasiruddin Nadim, Bakirul Islam, Sharmin Ety, Humayra akhter, Mohammad Hasnain, Pankaj Majumdar, Ziaul Abedin Rakhal, Sajib Sarkar, Evan Reaz, Zerin and Sheyuti Shahgufta.
