Filmmakers, theatre directors, singers and small screen directors said that Tagore practice was in decline in the country due to a lack of reading habit among the youths and patronisation from both government and private organisations.
抖阴精品 spoke to film director, screenwriter and producer Nargis Akhter, actor, director and troupe leader of Prangonemor Ananta Hira, Tagore singer Shimu Dey and visual production and television drama director Hasan Rezaul who shared their observations in this regard.
Nargis Akhter said that not many Tagore鈥檚 works were adapted into films in the country due to a lack of research and filmmakers were not willing to take up the challenge.
鈥楳any youths are not interested in Rabindranath Tagore because they do not read books, especially Bengali literature. So, contemporary filmmakers try to go with the flow. They do not make literature-based films because they do not want to take risks,鈥� said Nargis Akhter.
鈥楾here is also a trend of criticising literature-based films, especially films based on Tagore鈥檚 work. When I made a full-length film titled 鈥淥buj Bou鈥� based on Tagore鈥檚 short story Samapti, people said that Satyajit Ray had already made a film based on this story. I adapted the short story for a contemporary audience. Finally, 鈥淥buj Bou鈥� bagged three awards for best screenplay, melody and editing at the 35th National Film Award. I urge young filmmakers to take up the challenge of making literature-based films. The government should support films based on Rabindranath Tagore,鈥� ended Nargis Akhter.
Ananta Hira said that due to a lack of patronisation, quality actors and directors, not many Tagore-based theatre productions were produced in the country.
鈥楢ctors need both superb linguistic and acting skills to act in Tagore-based plays. Tagore wrote 37 plays and a lot of short stories, novels and poems which could be adapted into theatre productions. However, not many Tagore-based plays are produced because we do not have many theatre troupes who are up to the task,鈥� said Ananta Hira.
His troupe has brought five theatre productions based on Tagore, including Sheymaprem, Swadeshi, Shesher Kabita, Raktakarabi and Ami O Rabindranath to the stage.聽聽
鈥楾he cultural sector of the country is suffering due to a lack of patronisation from government and private organisations. The government and private organisations should patronise Tagore-based films, theatre productions and publications to protect our Bengali culture and philosophy,鈥� ended Ananta Hira.
Shimu Dey alleged that people living in rural areas were avoiding Rabindranath Tagore because of his religious identity.
鈥榃hen I attended music competitions as a judge in urban areas I saw that children and youths were singing Tagore songs. Besides, a lot of researchers are working on Tagore鈥檚 creations and philosophy. However, I observed that people in rural areas were avoiding Tagore because of his religious identity,鈥� said Shimu Dey, who released three Tagore albums, including 鈥楽angeetomadhurima鈥�, 鈥楾omay Amay Mile鈥� and 鈥楽agor Parer Sur鈥�.
She said that many Tagore singers were not releasing songs because they had to bear the recording cost.
鈥楢lthough a huge number of singers learn and practice Tagore songs, they do not release songs because they have to bear the cost of recording songs. As a result, singers feel discouraged to record new Tagore songs,鈥� mentioned Shimu Dey, who urged the media to promote young Tagore singers.
鈥榃e have to promote the young Tagore artistes so that they can play a role in promoting Tagore鈥檚 creations and philosophy,鈥� ended Shimu Day.
Hasan Rezaul said the small screen productions based on Tagore鈥檚 work were decreasing in the country because producers were not investing in literature-based TV dramas.
鈥楾agore-based TV programmes are usually aired on his birth or death anniversary. Nowadays, TV channels are airing old programmes and not producing new ones based on Tagore because of lack of budget,鈥� said Hasan Rezaul, who is known for his literature-based small screen productions.
鈥楲iterature-based productions are expensive to make because we need specially made sets, props and costumes. But sponsors treat literature-based productions as 鈥渟low items鈥�. Private organisations usually invest money in TV programmes for Valentine鈥檚 Day, Friendship Day and other events. They are not interested in promoting the country鈥檚 tradition, culture and arts. Television channels should invest more in Tagore-based productions,鈥� ended Hasan Rezaul.
