I've been lucky enough to live with and befriend all sorts of musicians, artists and theatre folk here in Bangladesh. Bengalis are romantics at heart, so their art is of the most expressive and dramatic in South Asia. A friend pointed out that in South Asia, the most business oriented nations have little art or literature (i.e. Gujrat). While Bengal has given birth to the most distinguished minds of art and intellect for centuries. Kolkata was (though arguably still is) the center of progressive art and theatre for decades. Bangladeshi theatre, music and art share many of the same traits: the vivid colors, the eccentric dramatics, the impassioned words and the fervid performances. These photos and video do not do justice to the grandeur of Bengali art.
Dhaka University Boishaki masks--even rickshaws are this colorful
performance at Shilpakola Theatre
(choreographed by my roommate Dola, written by my friend Bokul, performed by my friends' theatre group, Prachyonat)
(L-my friend Dalia's poetry reading at Banglabandhu Museum, R-performance of tribal dances from Chittagong Hill Tracts)
(my roommate Dola being a snake in the green!!)
performance by Kangali Sufian, a famous 65+ bawl singer at the BCFCC
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