Mr. Rahmat Ali
Associate Professor

Mr. Rahmat Ali completed his BA and MA in theatre from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, India. While studying at Rabindra Bharati University, he acted in a play directed by famous director Kumar Roy and acted mime directed by renowned mime actor Yogesh Dutta. From 1985-1990, he regularly performed in the theatre troupe 'Theatre Workshop' in Calcutta. Under the direction of Utpal Dutta, Rahmat Ali, an affectionate of Bibhas Chakraborty and Ashok Mukherjee, worked behind the scenes in William Shakespeare's Chaitali Raater Swapna (A Mid Summer Night’s Dream) at the West Bengal Theatre Academy. He participated in a special theatre workshop organized by Javadashki, a theatre director of Moscow Art Theatre, organized by Gorky Sadan, Kolkata, and in a lecture demonstration organized by Marcel Marceau, a world-renowned mime actor, organized by Kolkata Alliance Française. Besides, he worked with Badal Sarkar's Shatabdi Natyadal on Third Theatre for about three years. Under the direction of Bibhas Chakraborty and Ashok Mukherjee, he participated in many stage plays in various states of India, including Kolkata, for a long time. Under the direction of Kumar Roy, a renowned theatre director from the subcontinent, and Yogesh Dutta, a famous mime actor, he also played the lead role in Rabindranath’s Muktadhara, Raktakarbi and Rather Rashi (mimetic play). He has regularly performed in various theatre groups in Bangladesh. Notable plays he has acted in are: Jibon Ranga, Charidike Juddha, Bikkhobdo Otit O Nazrul, Shetolar Daya, Desher Manush, Tomrai, Uzir Ghorar Goppo,Drishya Kabbo, Sararattir, Dine Dine Bohu, Pragoitihashik, Hasya Lasya Bhasya,Baghal and Kolkata Theatre Workshop produced plays; Drabbyagun, Bela Obelar Golpo, Alibaba, Narak Gulzar. After completing his post-graduation, he came back to the country and joined the theatre Topkhana in 1990. In 1991, Rahmat Ali and Mrs. Wahida Mollick, established the first professional theater troupe in Bangladesh called Drishyakavya. The first theatre produced by this group is Badal Sarkar’s Sararattir.

On 16 July 1991, he joined Chittagong University as a lecturer in the Department of Dramatics under Fine Arts. He started teaching as a guest teacher in 1995 and later on March 28, 2000 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre and Music at University of Dhaka. He also served as the chairman of the department from 2009 to 2012.

He imparts theoretical and practical lessons on the history of Bengali theatre, mime, voice acting, yoga, music, television drama production, make-up, mask making and props making. Apart from this, he has made special contribution in theatre education by participating in directing and planning work in theatre production under various courses in academic sector. Important research journals of Bangladesh such as Dhaka University Sahitya Patrika, Bangladesh Asiatic Society, Shilpakala Academy's Half Yearly Bangla Patrika, Bangladesh Film Institute Paper, Gananatya Patrika, Anthropology Research Paper, Kala Anushad Patrika of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Kala Anushad Patrika of Cumilla University, More than 10 research papers of him have been published. His research book Abhinoyer Prothom Path (Jointly with Dr. Ahmedul Kabir) is a significant addition to the theatre community of Bangladesh. Also, the research book Maharshi Manoranjan Bhattacharya: Life and Drama based on the life and works of renowned Bengali drama actor and playwright Manoranjan Bhattacharya has been praised as an important book.

Organized by various educational institutions, international organizations and many important theatre troupes in Bangladesh, he has conducted numerous theoretical and practical lectures on drama, theatre history, mime, voice acting, yoga, music, make-up, mask and props making and conducted numerous workshops as the chief conductor. Important institutions are: Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangladesh Film Institute, Bangladesh National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC), Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Art (BITA), Subchan Natya Sangsad, Theatre Topkhana, Pratinidhi Natyadal-Chittagong, Rajshahi Sanskritik Sangha, Anushilan Natyadal Rajshahi University (RU), Faridpur Rajendra College Natyasangsad, Ganayanan-Chittagong, Deshnatak, Arindam-Chittagong, Tirjak-Chittagong are notable. In 1991, he conducted the first theatre-production based workshop at Jamalpur Shilpakala Academy, organized by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka.

He is involved in academic and administrative work with various universities and institutions. He worked as a founding member and later chairman of the Film and Media Department at Stamford University.

Notable plays directed by him are: Shetolar Daya, Kalbela, Hattamalar Opare, Pagla Ghora, Uzir Ghorar Gappo, Kabar, Geetanritya Natya Mahua, Khaksarnama, Swadeshi Naksha, Drabyagun, Chapapora Manush, Chirkumar Sabha, Manab Kantha, Unmad, Sakshatkar and Suchana by One Stage. His directed mimetic performances 'A Doll's House' and 'Live and Let Live' have also made important contributions to the mime practice in Bangladesh.

In addition to teaching, he has been performing on stage, radio, television, advertisement and film in Bangladesh and India for the last four decades. On television, he has acted in about four hundred plays.His acted films include Bajimat by Chashi Nazrul Islam,andShyamal Chhaya, 9 Number Bipod Sanket,Ghetuputra Kamala, written and directed by Humayun Ahmed and so on.Also, his films Sharat 71, Dhyatterika, a Bangladesh-India joint venture film, are very important. Especially, he gained immense popularity by playing the protagonist character in the film named 9 Number Bipod Sanket. The notable television dramas, serials and telefilms he acted in are: Ranger Manush, Bhaber Haat, Panbahar, Alospur, Alta Sundari, Bipratip, Jutababa, Durulhoda, Ekjon Betekhato Sadamata Manush, Gahargachhi, Beejmantra, Sedin Chaitramas, Railgari Jhomajhom, Naiory, and Biswas, 1^st serial tv drama of BBC etc.

In 2015, he became a life member of the ‘Curtain Call’, a renowned theatre troupe in Kolkata. He started his theatre career with the help of well-known theatre personality Master Tafazzal Hossain. Later, he came in contact with theatre academician Zia Haider and tried to enrich himself in art and theatre. He is especially indebted to these two talented people.