Waheeda Mallik Jolly. She has been acting in the theatre for more than three decades and has not stopped at that. She has been creating new young talented artists as well as directing , costume designing , choreographing etc. The former head of department of music and drama of Dhaka University is presently working as assistant professor. Mahfuzur Rahman is telling us about her love for drama, cinema and the theatre and her opinions of certain other current matters.

Presently there are numerous channels in our country for which numerous plays are being made. Don’t you think that the quality of these plays is being debased due to the quantity?

The fact that it is happening is true. That’s what happens when quantity increases instead of quality. It is only natural that amongst all these channels and all these plays not all of them will be up to the mark. But many good plays are being made. And due to this increased production there has been a competition to do well. The new comers are doing quit well. Eg some of Charukala’s students are making quality productions. In artistry everything is connected. In their work the thing that is most noticeable is that their composition is better as they are using the idea of painting composition. I like to work with them very much. On the other hand a huge sector of profession has been created. Starting from actors, cameraman, to costume designers even art directors are being introduced which is very positive for us. And the new generation has brought about such a change in the production, and not just production, acting and everything is praiseworthy. Nowadays in our tv plays many new concepts are being added such as mega serial, daily soap, live serial etc. How do you view these matters and how comfortable is to work in such concepts?

I always like to watch one hour plays. Because everything is under my control- the script, character. But nowadays these one hour plays are not being made. Most are mega serial and daily soap. At the beginning I would not work on long serials. I really enjoy it when the scripts are already written, the units are organized, everything is on time and the making is good. But when I see a disorganized mega serial, no surety on making, timing; don’t receive the scripts properly; I don’t know where my character is ultimately going to be; how am I supposed to characterize? How should I get to the next objective? These are very problematic. And that’s when I get annoyed.

Is the commercial sector the only concern of the channels?

The commercial sector of course exists which Is for channel and producer both. Most of the channels are interested in one hour serial or mega serial. Because of advertising purposes. Income and expenditure always has to be considered. And obviously they will trade. The painters who paint portraits aren’t they selling their work? Here there is a relationship. Because the artist has to pay everyone who is working for him. On the other hand my opinion is that audience prefers serials. Because no one sustains at a single channel. That is why the one hour plays are problematic. In a serial if an audience misses a bit he does not get lost from the story. By watching the next part he can understand what happened previously.

Why are you only directing in the theatre and not in the tv?

Now if someone asks me whom do I love among my two sons Rajat and Shohan, can I answer that question? Just like that acting and teaching are my two children. They are both my occupation. I love them both the same. And I don’t enjoy doing anything other than these two things. Whatever I say but “Maddhombayog” or “Urubhongo” directed by was mostly for my teaching course. For a long time now my well wishers have been asking me to direct something in the media. But I have not interest in this. Whatever I direct I will do it in the theatre. I am an actress and will continue to act. I will act and teach.

Professionalism in the theatre is being discussed for a long time now.

Obviously professionalism is necessary. Group theatre agitation has brought our theatre this far, it can not be denied. Of course professional theatre is now necessary. In our country smart thoughtful students of dramaturgy are coming out from three universities. They are just as good at directing as they are at acting. They are not excluded in mainstream theatre. Of course people on stage want to do theatre. If the television media pays one lakh taka per month and the stage offers 20 thousand a month then many children and even I would take up this path professionally. Now is the time for professionalism. To say how, starting from seminar many other factors is required to be discussed. Again to bring professionalism in the university’s academic theatre there may be a professional repartee about the teachers of university. But the main responsibility must be of the governments. In the developped countries of the world the government is theatres main ally.

Presently there are plenty of channels other than btv. You are the one of the viewers of this improvement.

The quality of BTV’s own production has reduced. Many plays directed by Mustafa Manowar, Abdullah Al Mamun, Atikul HaqueChowdhury, Nawajesh Ali Khan are still memorable. Now the quality is not as such. Back then there was the fact that there were no other channels than BTV. From playwriter, director, to actors and actress their sole concentration was on BTV. At that time the pay was not the main factor. I am doing the play that was the main factor. Then 20 years after our independence when the first private channel started, improved technology, good production, more pay whatever we call it, everyone is leaning in that dirction. In BTV the most senior playwriter gets a pay of maximum 10 thousand taka. On the other hand in the private channels they are receiving 20-25 thousand taka. Also the artists get more credit. That is why everyone is paying more attention to the private productions. But the private plays(pakage) in BTV are well made.

Currently many literature based many plays are being made. What is your opinion about that?

Of course I say that is good. But those who are working on Rabindranaths plays are not thinking about that time properly. They are not paying attention to the costumes props and other matters. Again some have transformed Rabindranath and are adopting it with the present. It may be that I have liked it. Eg Ashrafi Mithu has made a play based on the poem “Bashi”. He has researched a lot on costumes , props etc. The art director of the play has gone as far as Faridpur to find that house of “Bashi”. I have done the costume designing for that play. Trying so hard to bring out Rabindranath is something I admire. But again some just make something on a rush. Making Rabindranths plays is not like sewing a lace on blouse. Back then did everyone put laces on blouses? That’s why the knowledge is important. Much study is required. Still now Mustofa Monowars “ Strir potro” and “Roktokobory” is renowned. I have liked working on many of the plays by Rabindranathe Tagor, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Shamaresh Mazumder, Shuchitra Bhattachargo, Selina Hossain, Nasrin Jahan and many others. I think more literature based plays should be made.

Do you think that in the present television play there is much of script indigence?

I wont exactly call it script indigence. Many young ones are writing good scripts. Rather I would say that many are not being able to make something good with a good script. The producers who want to produce something good are finding out those quality scripts. And those who do not want it are incapable of finding good scripts.

What do you think about the two streams of business and alternative in todays cinema.

There should be only one stream. Films of FDC are mainstream and those who have studied on cinema outside FDC and are producing cinema, that is called alternat stream. Actually we have created these two words. There is no such word in the world. A cinema is a cinema. Again some calls it art film. I don’t believe in these. Theres only the healthy movies and the tainted or sick ones. Now is the time to remove the flood water and bring cinemas into a healthy environment. On the other hand no one can produce films outside FDC. Director has to be enlisted from there. Because use of technology, renting hall etc many processing is required. Thus main stream and alternate stream are actually the same. Thus the distinguishing them is irrelevant. I think that cinema is a strong medium. The spoiled part has to be removed. The open minded producers should unite to remove the unhealthy and disgusting thoughts from FDC.

Now lets come to a different matter. Once upon a time working on plays was quite difficult for women.

I have not had that kind of problem or struggle in my life. My father was in the theatre. I have studied on the theater. I also had no problem there. Rather if I did not practice music in the morning my father would scold me. My family was in a cultural environment. Some would learn dancing , some singing and all of us would act. Thus I had no struggle there. In Culcatta I worked with a big team on the leading role as I would work here on a regular basis. When I came back from Culcatta BTV did not evaluate me. I wont call this struggle. My first work on BTV was on “Eki jalaton” by Kaj Mamtajuddin Ahmed. My co artists were Assaduzaman Noor and Shubarna Mustafa. Being the first enlisted actress in the play, I came into consideration. But when I returned from Culcutta no one called me untill 97. I did not go either. And after the private channels were launched I did not have to look back.

You have played many parts in many plays. Does the personal character get lost amongst the famous characters?

That does happen a lot of the times. After playing the Hamela character in “Ranger Manush” many people would call me Hamela on the road. Once I went to a sandy land to play a village woman’s character. There the chairman could not believe that I was a teacher of Dhaka University. This happened a lot.

Producing films outside the country, how do you view that?

This mainly happens according to the producers demand. In a 10 day tour a 13 or 26 episodes serial is made. Side by side produces 2 to3 one hour telefilms. All this in 10 days is not possible in our country. Here there is a matter of business. Audience can see new locations. But I think rush does not make good quality art or culture. A child birth takes ten months and ten days. If born premature it may be retarded. It’s the same for plays. In abroad they can not make the set or do the lighting well. They have to work with small camera. And sometimes without permission from the authority they shoot secretly. These reduce the quality of the play.

How do u see the new generations thought and way of working?

The new generation as I see it is of two types. One is highly creative . They are amazing us with their new ideas which I could not imagine. And there are some who do not think that deeply. Our own culture, independent war our mother language agitation, all this has to be felt and realised by the new generation. Those young ones who are unaware of these are incapable of sophisticating thoughts. They are impatient, wants everything with little labour. And the media, after one or two advertisement they get coverage and become egotistic. They are not thinking about the characters. They are not giving much time to thoughts. It feels bad when they don’t show up after waiting for hours. Again when I see the young generation making so nicely with such nice thoughts and dedication it feels good. I am always hopeful about the new generation. Some bad works will come up amongst the good ones. Todays young ones are seeing the world, and studying . We did not have that in our time. We came on somewhat emotions. Sometimes following family trend and sometimes from our own crazyness. I always welcome the young one’s new ideas. It never feels bad to lose to their young ideas. Rather I enjoy it.
Picture by Rashed Zaman

Overview:

Nick name: Jolly
Her friends or parents may call her : Kali, kalindi, babu
Birthdate: 17 june
Fathers name: Toffazol Hosebon
Motheres name: Anowara Khatun
First school : P N Shorkari Balika Biddaloy, Rajshahi,
First direction : “Shararattir” ( playwriter-Badol Shorkar)
First read novel : “Bhalobashar Mukh” by Ashapurna Debi
Favourite personality: Father
Favourite actor : Antony Quin, Al Pacino, Nasirudding Shah
Favourite actress : Sofia Lauren, Audry Hepbarn, Joya Bhaduri
Favourite dress : Tat sharee
Favourite singer : Utpola Shen
Favourite cinema : Brave heart, Gone with the wind, Sound of music, My fair lady, Charulata, Pother Pechali
Favourite moment : when I open my eyes after I wake up and when I am with my husband and children
Favourite tourism spot : Culcatta, Shilong, Saint Martin, Rajshahi
How she describes herself : Logical, moral, romantic, whatever is in my heart is my final decision, but I confuse a lot.
When she looks in the mirror: while putting on make up for acting
Favourite tv channel : discovery
Favourite tv play : Roktokobori ( directed by Mustafa Monowar)
Favourite poet : Rabindranath Tagor
Favourite poem: Oshomapto, Ontortomo (Rabindranath)
Definition of war: fighting for idealism and the sense of values
Definition of success: the strength to stand up straight