A Poet of Silence: Documentary on Partha Pratim Majumder
Zahangir Alom: A biographical documentary, titled “Poet of Silence”, on the internationally famed Bangladeshi mime maestro Partha Pratim Majumder was launched at the auditorium of Alliance Française de Dhaka on April 9. Alliance Française de Dhaka, together with Raktakarabi, organised the screening.
Directed by Al Masum Shobuj, the 28-minute film highlights remarkable moments from Majumder’s life — starting from his childhood days in Pabna, Bangladesh to meeting the French mime icon Marcel Marceau. The biography also features Majumder staging the mimodrama “The Nightmare” at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 1994 and his solo show of “Padma Nadir Majhi” at UNESCO headquarters, Paris in 1986.
Noted personalities — Asaduzzaman Noor MP, magician Jewel Aich, musicians Ila Majumder and Bappa Majumder, filmmakers Morshedul Islam and Jean Nesar Osman, dancer Tamanna Rahman and others — spoke highly of Majumder’s accomplishments with reference.
“Being Partha’s close friend, I had the opportunity to watch Marcel Marceau’s show in Paris, London, New York and in Bangladesh. I observed the subtle dexterity and technique in Marceau’s performance but I can never forget the superb use of emotions by Partha in portraying the death of a bird and a boy’s guilt after shooting it,” Jewel Aich says in the film.
The film wraps up with Majumder expressing his dream of setting up of a Mime Academy in Bangladesh. The artiste also renders a song “Joy Joy Nabo Jato Bangladesh” in the film. Actor Joyonto Chattopadhyay did the narration for the film.
The auditorium was packed and even Partha Pratim Majumder with others had to watch the film standing.
A discussion was held after the screening. Poet, dramatist and novelist Syed Shamsul Haq was the chief guest at the programme. Patrick Branco, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in Bangladesh; Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr. Gauhar Rizvi and director of Alliance Française Saliha Lefevre were the guests of honour on the occasion. Filmmaker Morshedul Islam also spoke at the event. Actor Joyonto Chattopadhyay, magician Jewel Aich, dancer Tamanna Rahman and others were present on the occasion.
“I am very proud of my friend Partha. What I would like to say is that he is setting up an example of an exceptional expatriate by diffusing the artistry he had learnt,” said Patrick Branco.
After his vibrant speech, Dr. Gauhar Rizvi embraced Partha Pratim Majumder and assured him of assistance in setting up a mime academy.
Link requested by Anim Rahman | original source at http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=181230
