TÊTE-À-TÊTE: ROKEYA PRACHY
In search of a new image
In just six years the young actor propelled into international fame, like a shooting star. Stepping into the world of cinema in 1996 with ‘Dukhai’, Rokeya Prachy got her biggest break, working with Tareque Masud in Matir Moina, the film that took Bangladesh to dizzying heights in innumerable international film festivals all over the world, including the Oscars, Cannes, Marrakech and many others. She pauses to talk with Momena Jalil about her career
Momena Jalil: When was the beginning of your career as an actor?
Rokeya Prachy: When I was in class 8, I used to organise the sports and cultural programmes, and even acted in a school play. That was the beginning. For a long time I had no touch with acting, but I used to recite poetry, and do presentations on Television. Around the end of the 80’s my friends in the theatre pursued me to join them. I did a workshop with Lokonatya group and enjoyed it. I did another workshop with Tarik Aman and I liked it more. I joined Aranyak at the end of 1990 and have not looked back.
MJ: Why don’t we see you enough in theatre these days?
RP: I am not doing theater as much now, although I am now with the Nagarik Natya Sampradaya. At present I am in the role of Subadra in ‘Kaal Sandhya’.
MJ: How did you come into cinema?
RP: That also happened suddenly. It was back in 1996, I was seriously involved with theatre and television. At that time Morshedul Islam was doing ‘Dukhai’, all the casting was complete except the main female roll. He was asking everyone to find him an actress who fitted the character. Bipasha Hayat told him about me, and after he watched me in my first drama Kara na bhul, he signed me up. Cinema is totally a different medium. I learned a lot from Morshedul Islam. I have done three films, ‘Dukhai’, ‘Matir Moina’ and ‘Antar Jatra’, and I am at present working in ‘Swapna Danay’. It is very hard to say which character I liked playing best; but ‘Matir Moina’ has brought me international recognition.
MJ : Will you do main stream films?
RP: I have no problem doing main stream films but if I can work with directors like Morshedul Islam and Tareque Masud and if I get good scripts.
MJ : Why do we always see you in serious roles?
RP: It is sad that people have formed that idea about me. I suppose it has to do with my roles in ‘Dukhai’ or ‘Matir Moina’. I want to break away from that image do completely different roles.
MJ : Do you get enough support from your family?
RP: I am very lucky about this aspect of my life. In fact, my career started soon after my first marriage. My late husband stood by me and gave me all the encouragement I needed. And now I am very lucky to have found a cooperative husband.
MJ : Any dreams still unfulfilled?
RP: After four, five year I have plans to move into direction. I want to play different types of characters. I do not want move out of this medium, I want to be involved in direction or writing script.
And if I ever get a chance I will do something for women and children; I have a dream of establishing an orphan house. After my first husband died I contributed to few orphanages. It will be more meaningful if we fully support one or two orphans, instead of just giving a single meal to hundreds of needy children throughout the year.
MJ: Any particular experience you remember?
RP: While we were shooting ‘Matir Moina’, the support we got from people of the village was unforgettable. Our county is very beautiful, as are the people, especially in the rural areas. Working with them is a joy.
Anandabhuban celebrates
10th anniversary
CULTURAL CORRESPONDENT
Anandabhuban, a well-known fortnightly magazine celebrated its 10th birth anniversary at the premises of the Biswa Sahitya Kendra on May 16.
Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed was present as the chief guest. Besides, eminent personalities like Dr. Inamul Haque, Ataur Rahman, Shahidul Islam Khokan, and others attended the programme. Iqbal Khorshed, editor of the magazine welcomed the guests.
The chief guest in his speech stated that the magazine has been doing well since its inception. Though it is an entertainment magazine, it often publishes topics on some serious issues.
Alamgir Hossain, chief operating officer of the magazine said that the paper has been accepted by a cross section of people. They are trying to uphold the cultural heritage by organising different sorts of live programme.
Souls, Warfaze, Pentagon, Fahmida Nabi, Mehrin, Pathik Nabi, Haider, Sandhipan, Afrin, Mila Islam and others rendered songs of different genre at the ceremony.
Publication ceremony of Brand
CULTURAL CORRESPONDENT
Organised by the Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT), a publication ceremony of Henrik Ibsen’s Brand, will be held at the Jatiya Natyashala of the Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha at 5:00pm on May 20.
Aud Lise Norheim, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy will be present as the guest of honour. Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid will chair the function.
Professor Abdul Mannan, President of CAT will deliver the welcome speech. Professor Zillur Rahman Siddique, poet Abdul Mannan Syed, novelist Selina Hossain, Professor Firdaus Azim and theatre personality Aly Zaker will discuss on the book.
The discussion will be followed by staging of Brand.
Khaled wins French Language Prize
CULTURAL CORRESPONDENT
Syed Md Khaled Mahmood won the Allaince Francaise Language Prize 2005. Every year Alliance Française de Dacca organises a competition for the students. This year some 16 students from Alliance Francaise de Dhaka and four from Alliance Francaise de Chittagong took part in the competition.
Alliance Francaise will arrange a free trip to France for the winner. Alliance Francaise de Dhaka director, Mme Myriam Bassinot congratulated the winner at a function held at its office recently.
Born in Chittagong in 1981, Syed Md Khaled Mahmood, is a 4th year honours student of Social Science in the Department of Anthropology, University of Chittagong.
In the wild
8:00pm–9:00pm, Animal Planet
In the wild travels across the world and showcases famous Hollywood celebrities. In Orangutans, Academy award winning actress Julia Roberts narrates her experience with the sole surviving largest tree-living primates of Asia, the orangutans. The viewers follow these peaceful creatures as they spend most of their time suspended from their long arms hundreds of meters off the forest floor, eating fruits and flowers of the canopy. Unlike their African cousins - chimps and gorillas - they’re quiet and solitary.
TODAY’S PICK
Demolition Man
Slick, bewildering action that’ll stop you in your tracks! A vicious 20th-century criminal is loose in the peaceful 21st century. Unused to dealing with violence, the police have no way to stop him. There’s only one hope: get the killer’s old enemy from 1996, a cop so violent he was put in the deep freeze as punishment! John Spartan (Stallone) is the lawman and Simon Phoenix (Snipes) the prey in this explosive sci-fi action drama. You should check this movie out if you want to know what life is like without sex. smoking, drinking and vulgarity! Lt. Lenina Huxley (Bullock) plays the quick-thinking policewoman who unleashes Spartan.
Demolition Man
HBO
9:30pm
Starring
Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Sandra Bullock
Genre: Action/Sci-fic
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