Bangladesh’s Ethic Theatre is set to celebrate a major milestone in its 16-year journey with the 100th performance of Utpal Dutt’s acclaimed play Hari Fatibe.
The landmark staging, titled “Hari Fatibe Shotok Shondha”, will take place on 22 August at 7pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Veteran theatre personalities Ramendu Majumdar and Abul Hayat will attend the event as chief guests.
Poet Sheikh Rezauddin Ahmed (Rezauddin Stalin), Director General of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, will be present as a special guest. The programme will be chaired by Rezanur Rahman, president of Ethic Theatre.
Ethic Theatre first staged Hari Fatibe in 2010, directed by Apu Shahid.
In 2024, the production was revived with a fresh interpretation under the direction of Mintu Sardar, who continues to helm the play.
The cast for the 100th performance includes Hasan Rizvi, Bhabna Hasan, Sukorno Hasan, Tarek Chowdhury Rimon, Moni Kanchan, Afnan Opsora, Azim Uddin, Pradip Kumar, Abir Babu, Nahid Munna, Rubel Khan, and Mintu Sardar.
To mark the occasion, the theatre group will honour 100 artists and backstage crew members who have contributed to the production over the years.
Performers who have appeared in previous stagings of the play will also be recognised, while special appreciation will be extended to members of the audience.
Speaking about the milestone, director Mintu Sardar described Hari Fatibe as one of Utpal Dutt’s timeless creations.
“Hari Fatibe is a timeless mirror of society,” he said. “Times have changed, but the relevance of the play has not diminished in the slightest. It continues to reflect the moral decline that persists across different sections of society.”
Reflecting on the production’s journey, Sardar added, “The play began its journey in 2010, and I later took over the responsibility of directing it in a new form to meet the needs of the troupe. The story remains the play’s greatest strength. Keeping a production alive for 16 years through the love of audiences is a matter of great pride for us. Reaching the 100th performance is a joyful milestone in that long journey.”
