In a Remarkable Act, Kolkata Theatre Fraternity Joins Hands
RBN Web Desk: The theatre fraternity of Kolkata, in a remarkable act of solidarity, has come together to raise money for the treatment of Satish Shaw and Ganapati Naskar. Both Satish and Ganapati are regular stage actors in the city. Satish was recently diagnosed with oral cancer, and is undergoing chemotherapy sessions, while Ganapati is recovering from a bypass surgery.
The recently concluded five-day theatre festival at Tapan Theatre, organised by Niva Arts, was dedicated to the two artistes. None of the participating groups took their performance fees and the entire ticket sale proceeds went to the fund created for the treatment of Satish. Even the makeup artistes, and sound, light, and other technicians rendered their services free. The Tapan Theatre authorities waived the rent of the hall for all five days.
According to Niva Arts chief Samar Mitra, the festival staged prominent plays like Gorur Garir Headlight, Chandragupta, Shekal Chhara Haather Khonje, and others.
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Gambhira Bhattacharya of Birbhum Repertory Theatre, said that several groups wanted to perform in the festival held from 16 to 20 June, but not all could be accommodated because of time constraints. A donation box was also kept outside the hall. She appealed more people to come forward for similar events in the future.
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That aside, theatre group Aesthetics organised a one-day theatre festival at Naihati on 19 June, which featured performances from both Bengals. Prominent Bangladeshi theatre actor-director Rahul Raj staged Kopal at the festival. The event was organised in support of ailing theatre activists.
A show on similar lines has been organised on 27 June at the Minerva Repertory Theatre in north Kolkata, where Belghoria Abhimukh will stage Kojagari, an adaptation of a Howrad Fast novel.
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Satish was playing Sancho Panza in Sujan Mukherjee’s latest productio Don—Taake Bhalo Laage, an adaptation of Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes’ iconic novel Don Quixote, when he was detected of oral cancer. Sujan stepped in to play the role after Satish was admitted to the hospital.
