THE GROUP
Charbak started its journey on 1st January, 1976 under the leadership of late dramatist and director Jochhon Dastidar. Everything he wrote, staged, acted, purported around the society he lived in. After his death in 1998, his wife and celebrated theatrician Chandra Dastidar helmed the group as president for 13 years till she breathed her last in May 2012.
Registered in 1977, Charbak started staging plays in Kolkata and surrounding areas at the rate of approximately 50 shows a year. All plays written and directed by Jochhon Dastidar. Gradually other playwrights contributed with their own plays, which included Mr Tushar Dey, Mr Jagadish Chakrabarty and others. Later in 1987, Chandra Dastidar wrote her first play and Jochhon Dastidar directed it. The name of the play was Sati. In 2003 their daughter Kheyali Dastidar wrote and directed her very first play titled Kande Keno Behula Shundori. In 2005 Arindam Ganguly wrote and directed Cholo Potol Tuli, which went on to become a runaway hit. With Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Kheyali Dastidar in leading roles, Cholo Potol Tuli has been staged over 250 times and continues to be very popular among audiences. In 2007, Charbak staged Apsara Theatre-er Mamla based on Satyajit Ray's Feluda story of the same name. Directed by Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and featuring him in the role of Feluda, Apsara Theatre-er Mamla has been received very well by audiences everywhere.
Charbak’s list of Bengali plays include Padya Gadya Prabandha (1976), Thengarey (1977), Aajker Spartacus (1977), Karnik (1978), Bhuter Begaar (1978), Uttar Purush (1980), Otho Shikkha Bichitra (1980), Kortar Bhoot (1980), Shaarey Nota (1982), Ashol Jinish (1983), Atmar Shanti (1984), E Ek Itihash (1984), Sitaar Agniparikkha (1985), Sati (1987), Pratyasha (1989), Banjara (1991), Aaloye Phera (1993), Mukhomukhi (1996), Parh Mile Nai (1999), Thikana (2001), Kande Keno Behula Shondori (2003), Cholo Potol Tuli (2005), Apsara Theatre-er Mamla (2007), Dudh Kheyeche Myao (2012), Ekhon Tokhon (2013).
Charbak, now in its 4th decade of existence, has had the honour of collaborating with great theatre personalities like Tapas Sen, Joy Sen, Tarit Choudhury, Dinen Choudhury, Shombhu Bhattacharya, Kalyan Sen Barat, Botu Pal and others. Charbak is still playing a significant role in the arena of Bengali Theatre following in the footsteps of Jochhon Dastidar with the help of the second generation’s active cooperation.
Apart from performing in West Bengal, Charbak has staged plays all over the country with venues like Delhi, Mumbai, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Baroda and has also entertained audiences outside the country in places such as Dhaka (BANGLADESH), Muscat (OMAN) and Nashville (USA).
Registered in 1977, Charbak started staging plays in Kolkata and surrounding areas at the rate of approximately 50 shows a year. All plays written and directed by Jochhon Dastidar. Gradually other playwrights contributed with their own plays, which included Mr Tushar Dey, Mr Jagadish Chakrabarty and others. Later in 1987, Chandra Dastidar wrote her first play and Jochhon Dastidar directed it. The name of the play was Sati. In 2003 their daughter Kheyali Dastidar wrote and directed her very first play titled Kande Keno Behula Shundori. In 2005 Arindam Ganguly wrote and directed Cholo Potol Tuli, which went on to become a runaway hit. With Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Kheyali Dastidar in leading roles, Cholo Potol Tuli has been staged over 250 times and continues to be very popular among audiences. In 2007, Charbak staged Apsara Theatre-er Mamla based on Satyajit Ray's Feluda story of the same name. Directed by Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and featuring him in the role of Feluda, Apsara Theatre-er Mamla has been received very well by audiences everywhere.
Charbak’s list of Bengali plays include Padya Gadya Prabandha (1976), Thengarey (1977), Aajker Spartacus (1977), Karnik (1978), Bhuter Begaar (1978), Uttar Purush (1980), Otho Shikkha Bichitra (1980), Kortar Bhoot (1980), Shaarey Nota (1982), Ashol Jinish (1983), Atmar Shanti (1984), E Ek Itihash (1984), Sitaar Agniparikkha (1985), Sati (1987), Pratyasha (1989), Banjara (1991), Aaloye Phera (1993), Mukhomukhi (1996), Parh Mile Nai (1999), Thikana (2001), Kande Keno Behula Shondori (2003), Cholo Potol Tuli (2005), Apsara Theatre-er Mamla (2007), Dudh Kheyeche Myao (2012), Ekhon Tokhon (2013).
Charbak, now in its 4th decade of existence, has had the honour of collaborating with great theatre personalities like Tapas Sen, Joy Sen, Tarit Choudhury, Dinen Choudhury, Shombhu Bhattacharya, Kalyan Sen Barat, Botu Pal and others. Charbak is still playing a significant role in the arena of Bengali Theatre following in the footsteps of Jochhon Dastidar with the help of the second generation’s active cooperation.
Apart from performing in West Bengal, Charbak has staged plays all over the country with venues like Delhi, Mumbai, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad, Baroda and has also entertained audiences outside the country in places such as Dhaka (BANGLADESH), Muscat (OMAN) and Nashville (USA).
OUR FOUNDER
JOCHHON DASTIDAR was born on 16th June, 1933 at Bhawanipore, Kolkata. His father’s name was Lakshmi Charan Ghosh Dastidar. He passed his matriculation examination from Mitra Institution. He graduated in 1957 from Government Art College. He was a first division cricket player. While in Art College he acted on stage for the first time in the play Jhar. Followed by Tagore's Bisarjan, in the role of Jaisingha.
He was one of the greatest dramatists of his time. He was the founder of the theatre group Rupantari, along with his wife Chandra Dastidar. His first play was called Antarin. Soon after, he followed with Dui Mahal, Karnik, Amar Vietnam, Ajker Spartacus, Padya Gadya Prabandha, etc. In 1976, Jochhon Dastidar left Rupantari and formed his theatre group Charbak. His original plays and stage design established him as a master of his craft and cemented his place in theatre history.
He is also often referred to as the Father of Bengali television. He formed his own production company Sonex in 1983 and produced many television programs for Doordarshan. The serials he directed went on to become major hits. Tero Parbon, Uranchandi, Shei Shomoy set the pace for greater things to follow. At the same time he continued his work in theatre. Ae Eak Itihash, Kumirer Kanna, Parh Mile Nai, etc. are some of his legendary plays.
He left for his heavenly abode on 16th July, 1998.
He was a great leader and an enigmatic teacher of art.
He was one of the greatest dramatists of his time. He was the founder of the theatre group Rupantari, along with his wife Chandra Dastidar. His first play was called Antarin. Soon after, he followed with Dui Mahal, Karnik, Amar Vietnam, Ajker Spartacus, Padya Gadya Prabandha, etc. In 1976, Jochhon Dastidar left Rupantari and formed his theatre group Charbak. His original plays and stage design established him as a master of his craft and cemented his place in theatre history.
He is also often referred to as the Father of Bengali television. He formed his own production company Sonex in 1983 and produced many television programs for Doordarshan. The serials he directed went on to become major hits. Tero Parbon, Uranchandi, Shei Shomoy set the pace for greater things to follow. At the same time he continued his work in theatre. Ae Eak Itihash, Kumirer Kanna, Parh Mile Nai, etc. are some of his legendary plays.
He left for his heavenly abode on 16th July, 1998.
He was a great leader and an enigmatic teacher of art.
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