Rosey Siddique’s solo play Ponchonari Akkhyan narrates the tales of five women from five different social backgrounds. The talented artist shares that the play has been her biggest achievement so far, and she feels blessed to have won the hearts of millions. The play was first staged in Virigina, USA in 2012. Recently, the play was staged at Jahangirnagar University for the 27th time.
“It is not a drama, but a statement that in a male dominant world, women’s pain is universal,” Siddique told Showtime. Every time the show is arranged, she feels the same kind of anxiety that she felt the first time it was staged. However, a deep sense of accomplishment sets in once each staging comes to a close.
Rosey plays five female roles in Ponchonari Akkhyan which is aimed at showcasing how women lack recognition as human beings and are humiliated, often regardless of their social and financial backgrounds.
The play, Rosey’s first on-stage monologue, was written by Harun Rashid who works with renowned theatre group Aronnok. He wrote the play in 2012 when Dhaka Theatre, the theatre group which Rosey belongs to, went to Virginia to perform at Bongomela, a congregation of the Bangla speaking community in the US. After the first show, the play received a highly positive response.
“I was extremely panicked during the rehearsals, however, after finishing the performance I felt proud to have successfully represented my country at the fair,” shared Rosey.
Rosey went through a nerve-wrecking month long rehearsal period before hitting the stage, as her husband and director of the play Shahiduzzaman Selim “is a perfectionist,” she states.
“At that time Selim was sick. So we decided that I would do a solo play. I would say that the play was like a gift from God. Even today, whenever I perform for this play, once the curtains close, I have to chat with the audience for at least two hours. The response is overwhelming every time,” she said.
Why should someone go watch Ponchonari Akkhyan? In reply to the question, the jovial artist said: “Because it helps raise awareness on how we should be friendly to women, alongside which it also gives us a glimpse of how hard their lives are.”
Afzal Hossain designed the set and Wasim Ahmed was the light designer behind the 80 minute long play, while Shimul Yusuf and Chandan Chowdhury directed the musical scores. Rosey wholeheartedly thanks Shahiduzzaman Selim and Shimul Yusuf, who she claims have been the greatest inspiration behind the play. She especially mentions her two daughters – Toma and Sreema – who help her out with the music and costumes whenever the play is staged.
