Play on Baul Shamrat Shah Abdul Karim

The life and songs of ‘Baul Shamrat’ Shah Abdul Karim (1916-2009) will soon come to stage. Theatre troupe Subachan Natya Sangsad’s 33rd production “Mohajoner Nao” is based on the bard’s mystical journey into the world of music. Shakur Majid, who has made a documentary “Bhatir Purush” on Abdul Karim, is the writer of the play. Sudip Chakraborty, teacher at the Department of Theatre, Dhaka University, is directing the play.

The technical show of the play will be held on June 17 at the Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The play will have its premiere the following day at 7pm at the same venue.

Director Sudip Chakraborty informed that Abdul Karim’s direct disciples Baul Abdur Rahman, Baul Abdul Tawhid and Dulon Das have helped the actors train for the play. Ahsan Habib Nasim is the music director of the play, which will feature over 20 songs of the bard.

Shah Abdul Karim was born at Ujandhol village in Sunamganj. Karim never had a chance to attend school. Growing up amidst hardship, Karim started expressing his thoughts and emotions musically from an early age. He received lessons on spiritual and baul music from Kamal Uddin, Shadhak Rashid Uddin and Shah Ibrahim Mastan Baksh.

Karim had written and composed over 1600 songs. Six books — “Aftab Sangeet,” “Gano Sangeet,” “Kalnir Dheu,” “Dholmela,” “Bhatir Chithi” and “Kalnir Kuley” — containing Karim’s songs have been published. Bangla Academy translated ten of his songs into English.

Shah Abdul Karim died last year at the age of 93

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