<a href="http://nynjbengali.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/subho_sammo.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-344" style="margin: 6px; float: left;" title="Parijat and Pallab" src="http://nynjbengali.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/subho_sammo.jpg" alt="Parijat (Subhodev) and Pallab (Shamyo) in Banaprastha" /></a>After a long preparation phase, the end is now in sight. In two weeks time, ECTA will be launching their latest production, "Banaprastha" or "The Retirement". ECTA's play have always generated interest amongst the theater lover audience of this area and "Banaprastha" is no exception. People are eagerly waiting for the new play with lot of expectation. We hope this play will live up to that.

"Banaprastha" will feature some of the regular performers of ECTA along with few new faces. Shamyo Goswami, a newcomer to New Jersey will be appearing for the first time on NJ stage. Although Shamyo's primary interest is in film direction (he has directed and produced a Banga Tele-serial featuring some of the top actors of Bengali screen), he is also an excellent actor. Subhodev Das, after a long hiatus, will be performing the role of the protagonist character - Dr. Parijat Sen.  Another newcomer is Pradeep Ramdas. Although not a native Bengali speaker, his love for Bengali theater is no less than any Bengali. In India, Pradeep was involved with the street theater movement. Pradeep plays the role of Ashok Diwan, a young business man of Kolkata.  Kaninika Dutta's debut in New Jersey theater was with Pratham Alo, where she acted in the key role of Bhumisuta. Kaninika, after a long break, returns to the stage as Sudeshna. Gargi Mukherjee, the well known actress (you cannot miss her in Mira Nair's film - The Namesake) also returns to an ECTA production after a long time. She performed in ECTA's first production "Phera" (The Return) in 2004 as a guest artist. In Banaprastha, she performs in the role of Suranjana - a character that will touch the hearts of many. Kaushik Dutta, who won the hearts of many with his role of Nando in "Ron", will also feature in an important character role.

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The play also features the veteran performers like Lilabati Majumdar, Keka Sirkar, Indranil Mukherjee. I'll also join the team on stage as Parikhit Sen.

This will be the third directorial venture of Indranil Mukherjee with ECTA. Alibaba and Satyameva were his first two ventures for which he has earned accolades from the audience. The music is composed by Partha Sarathi Mukherjee.

Many of ECTA's past actors like Pinaki Dutta, Nandita Ghosh, Tapas Ghosh, Aparajita Das and others will be performing behind the stage. ECTA believes that theater does not only belong to the actors and the director - but it also belongs to the entire crew who works hard to make the production a success.

I hope you will all join us on May 16, 17, 30, 31st to celebrate this momentous event.