Joyraj takes up a new challenge

Theatre activist Joyraj Bhattacherjee has taken up a challenge. He will stage the second show of his latest production, Titumir, on a weekday at Academy of Fine Arts. The real challenge is that he has agreed to go for a matinee show. “Dates for the matinee shows on weekdays at the Academy are usually available. But nobody takes the risk of availing those bookings because it is difficult to fill up those seats.I am confident that I will present a houseful show,” he told us.
Not just this show, Joyraj has also planned to stage two back-to-back shows of Titumir on September 9. “There will be an evening show too. I am sure people will come and watch this play,” he said.
Based on Utpal Dutt’s play, Titumir features Anirban Bhattacharya and veteran actor Asit Basu in the lead. “Anirban and I have worked together in Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Raja Lear. He also worked in my film, Ghya Chang Fou. This is the first time I am going to direct him on stage. Meanwhile, I am also really excited to work with Asit Basu, who had worked with Utpal Dutt for a long period of time,” Joyraj said.
But why Titumir, we asked Joyraj. “Titumir was a pious peasant leader who fought against the atrocities of the British Raj as well as the rich landlords. All the deprived and marginal farmers, including Hindus and Muslims, gathered together under his leadership. He built a fort of bamboo, called Bnasher Kella, in Narikelbaria near Barasat. His contribution to fighting the oppressor is outstanding. In the era of post-truth politics, I thought it is important to tell the stories of these heroes,” the director replied.