A thespian with an unkown language: Mamunur Rashid directs challenging Nepalese project

For veteran theatre personality Mamunur Rashid, theatre has always been about stepping beyond familiar ground. This time, he has taken that challenge quite literally — directing a play in a language he does not speak.

The Ekushey Padak-winning actor, playwright and director is currently in Nepal, where he is directing his first-ever Nepali-language play, "Aayo Gorkhali".

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The play will be staged today (September 28) and tomorrow (September 29) at Sarwanam Theatre in Kathmandu, marking a new experience in his long and distinguished theatre career.

Speaking to The Daily Star from Nepal, Mamunur Rashid said he had performed in the solo play “Tumba”, a stage production in Nepal before, but directing a play in Nepali is a first for him.

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"When I received the invitation to direct a play in a language like this, I accepted it with pleasure," he said. "I have acted in stage plays in Nepal before, but this is the first time I am directing a play in the Nepali language. I am not acting in this production. I am only directing it," he said.

Written by Hong Kong-based playwright Augustine Chiu-yu Mok, "Aayo Gorkhali" features artistes from Nepal, Ireland and Hong Kong.

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The play explores the lives and struggles of the Gurkhas (soldiers native to Nepal known for their exceptional bravery, physical endurance, and loyalty), whose sacrifices and unequal treatment form the heart of the production.

According to Mamunur Rashid, the play looks at how Gurkhas often do not receive what they are rightfully owed after serving in wars, while British soldiers receive their due. Their courage, lives and struggles drive the narrative.

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“We have been working on the play for around a month, with rehearsals intensifying over the past few days. The process has been an unusual but deeply rewarding learning experience”.

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Mamunur Rashid acknowledged that directing a production in another language on an international platform has been challenging. “I'm directing a play in a language I don't know. I cannot describe the fascination I feel," he said.

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The veteran theatre personality has known Augustine Chiu-yu Mok for 15–20 years and describes him as ‘a very good person’.

For Mamunur Rashid, an artiste whose career has been defined by experimentation, "Aayo Gorkhali" appears to be another unfamiliar stage — one that he has willingly stepped onto.