Theatre troupe BotTala is presenting back to back showsings of The Trial of Mallam Ilya at the Natmandal auditorium of the University of Dhaka from January 1 to 3. The show premiered on January 1. The story has been adopted from an African play by Ghanian playwright Mohammad Ben Abdallah, translated by Soumya Sarker, and directed by Mohammad Ali Haider. The 3rd show will be staged today.
The premiere opened with the presence of 43 playwrights and the lighting of diyas on the premises of Dhaka University. The number of playwrights attending signified the 43 glorious years of Bangladesh’s victory.
BotTola, a leading theatre troupe, is known for reflecting the voice of the people. During the unrest prevailing in the country, BotTola has held numerous events to convey social messages to the masses.
Also, the theatre has staged a number of street performances in various places. This time, the troupe has focused on the political unrest in the country. The fifth production of BotTola has added to their credit.
The play starts in complete darkness — the story revolves around Mallam IIya, an unjust leader and a youth of 30, who gets captured. Acting against their orders, the rebels take Ilya to a secret place where they set up a court and put him on trial, accusing him, as well as his whole generation, of corruption, sedition and treason against the state. According to the rebels, they have been exploiting and abusing power to meet their own interests, while the people suffer. The play takes a dramatic turn when the shrewd Ilya manages to turn the table and put the blame on Malwal.
The director says: “The play portrays the current political situation in the country. The drama criticises the politicians who work only for their own benefit rather than for the people. We believe the play relates to the recent condition of our country. The conflict is apparently political — the so-called revolution against the so-called ill governance. The Trial of Mallam Ilya represents a turbulent statehood reflecting the political condition of any newly independent nation. The events of the play will remind the audience of the political instability of pre and post 1975 Bangladesh.” He adds: “Also, it was an attempt to stage a drama which is not based on the European concept. It was a challenge to convert the African culture to meet the social context of our country.”
The lighting of the background is a blue-sky colour, as it depicts that with time, the colours change. Also the chorography lights were presented in bright colours. When the set was ready for the war, the lighting was red to represent bloodshed.
The play features Pankaj Majumdar, Kazi Ruksana Parvin Ruma, Samina Luthfa Nitra, Imran Khan Munna, Mizanur Rahman, Taufique Hasan, Bakirul Islam, Humaira Akhter, Abdus Salam, Hasnain Shikdar, Evan Reaz, Mohammad Rahim and Sheyuti Sheen Shahgufta.
