Thaindian News

Kolkata, Feb 10 (IANS) London-born poet and translator William Radice, who has transliterated several literary works of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, is making his acting debut in ‘Raja’, a play by the Bard of Bengal.

“This is the first time I would be acting after my schooldays. I agreed to do the role because I won’t have to appear on the stage, neither will I have to learn the lines. I am very happy and excited,” said Radice, who would be essaying the title role whose voice only can be heard in the drama.

Radice, a doctorate in Bengali literature from Oxford who retired as teacher of Bengali at the University of London, has recently published “Rabindranath Tagore - The Jewel That Is Best: Collected Brief Poems (2011)”, and a new translation of “Gitanjali” (2011).

Describing Tagore as an international figure whose works have a global appeal, the author said ‘language barrier’ was a hindrance, but with more and more people taking up translation of his work, the barrier has been ever so diminishing.

Debashish Raychaudhury who would be directing ‘Raja’ said: “Tagore had written the original ‘Raja’ just after completing Gitanjali. He had also written its English version and subsequently did a shorter version of the same titled ‘Arup-Ratan’. Our play is a combination of all three texts and translated afresh.”

Radice is also working towards bringing Rabindra Sangeet on BBC Radio.

“I am very interested in Rabindra Sangeet and would love to get it on BBC Radio. I am trying to see if I can persuade them (BBC Radio) to do a series on the magical creations,” Radice told IANS on the sidelines of a programme here.

Rabindra Sangeet comprises songs written and composed by Tagore. It is a distinctive genre in the music of Bengal, popular in India and Bangladesh.

‘Raja’ will see its first ever multi-media production in English Feb 16, and is part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Tagore and the centenary of Raja written in 1910.