ENG305

Assignment

Live Theatre
Spring 2018

Instructor: Haroonuzzaman

Sarazeen Saif Ahana

ID: 1610047
Date: 22/3/2019

Kalindi

Writer: Selim Al-Din

Director: Roshidul Islam Raja

Location: DeshBangla Theatre, 17 March 2019

Performers: Godhuli Mahjebeen, Madhobilata, Shohag Dhor, Malik Sarkar, Shahanur Rahman,

Annur Rashad, Rahatul Habib and Shahria Khan Emon

Kalindi is the story of the daughter of a famed Hindu singer and songwriter who falls in love with a

Muslim singer while visiting her sister and elopes with him, destroying not just her life but her husband’s

and family’s.

Kalindi is the adored fourth daughter of her father, happy living with her parents and younger sister.

Also living in her father’s house is Shankar, the son of Baba’s friend who had been left in Baba’s care

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after the death of his parents. Despite her naturally happy disposition, Kalindi is deeply depressed — her

dark skin has resulted in multiple rejected marriage proposals. However, that comes to an end when

Shankar declares his love for her, and the two are engaged to be married. As a treat before the wedding,

Kalindi and Baba head over to a distant village where Kalindi’s eldest sister lives with her husband and

daughter. It is there that she meets Alal, a Muslim folk singer, who praises her beauty. Stunned by the first

compliment she had ever received, Kalindi falls madly in love but is haunted by the memory of Shankar.

Her emotions overtake her and Kalindi elopes with Alal, abandoning family, religion and honor for the

sake of love.

Things quickly turn against the happy couple, though, as Alal’s arm is broken by an angry mob

during their escape, an injury which never heals. They are persecuted for daring to have a Hindi girl living

within a Muslim music band until they are nearly destitute. Alal’s younger brother is killed by religious

extremists, and Alal loses faith in music, adopting a chaste religious life and abandoning Kalindi.

Knowing that her family will never accept her back now, Kalindi resolves to move to a different village

but is attacked by bandits while acquiring a boat for travel. Now completely dishonored and helpless,

Kalindi wanders the countryside for a year while returning to Alal’s house. Alal has not changed his mind

and rejects her, leaving Kalindi with no choice but to commit suicide.