Angina Jure Bhor theatre review: An impressive look into Bengal’s folk heritage

Cast: Bhaskar Banik, Anubhab Sengupta, Tapati Bhattacherji, Niladri Mukherjee, Samriddhi Banerjee, Arup Roy Director: Dr Gaurav DasDuration: 150 minGenre: DramaRating: 3.5Written and directed by Dr Gaurav Das, Angina Jure Bhor is an ambitious production that thoughtfully blends Bengal’s endangered folk performance traditions with contemporary theatre. Drawing on years of research, the play revisits the traditional angina (courtyard) as a cultural space where stories, rituals and community life once flourished, while questioning how these art forms can survive in the present.The story follows PhD scholar Nafeez, who arrives at the abandoned RadhaRani Mancha in search of its forgotten history. There he meets theatre owner Joydeb Debsharma (Arup Roy), whose recollections trace his journey from a rural Gomira dancer hoping to earn a better living in the city to a theatre practitioner entangled in power, ambition and politics.The production’s greatest strength lies in its seamless incorporation of folk forms such as Gomira, Khon Palagaan, Halua Haluani and Jatra.

The elaborate choreography and music create a visually striking, almost dreamlike atmosphere while illustrating how traditional forms can be reinterpreted without losing their essence. The play also raises important questions about artistic integrity, preservation and adaptation.Anubhab Sengupta delivers a natural performance as Nafeez, while Arup Roy and Tapati Bhattacherji lend quiet gravitas to the older Joydeb and Damayanti.

Bhaskar Banik is particularly impressive as the young Joydeb, balancing vulnerability with conviction. Chakropani Dev’s memorable score, the choreography by Nayan Sadhak and Samar Mridha, the evocative lighting by Saikat Manna and Rahul Sardar, and Adrish Kumar Ray’s understated set design collectively create an immersive theatrical experience.Although a few narrative threads remain unresolved and some dialogues are occasionally drowned out by the background score, Angina Jure Bhor ultimately succeeds as both an engaging drama and a moving meditation on the preservation, evolution and future of Bengal’s rich folk heritage.