Director's Take: Play on dilemma of woman to hit the stage today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 04, 2012:
Theatre director Dr S Thaninleima's forthcoming drama 'Eigi Khongthang Lepkhiroi' is a metaphor on the prevailing social milieu and efforts to empower women in Manipur.
In an exclusive chat with Hueiyen Lanpao on the eve of releasing her latest play, Dr Thaninleima explained, "'Eigi Khongthang Lepkhiroi' revolves around the suffering of a woman who struggles to raise her voice against the psychological and physical harassment in the present social setup in Manipur".
On her concept of women empowerment, Dr Thaninleima, who is also the scriptwriter and designer of the play to be performed by the artistes of her Khenjonglang at the hall of JN Manipur Dance Academy here at 4.30 pm tomorrow, opined, "Considering the present social turmoil, probably, the concept of women empowerment is only written in the book of law and it is not existed in a real world".
The release of 'Eigi Khongthang Lepkhiroi' has been set to mark the 8th foundation day of Khenjonglang, the theatre group which Dr Thaninleima herself has developed without any assistance from the Government of Manipur.
"After the present complex of Khenjonglang at Irilbung was set on fire by unidentified miscreants, the artistes raised the fund to make a makeshift stage.
It was a hard time for the artistes to work and bring up a play in such a situation", Dr Thaninleima, who is also the first NSD lady graduate from the entire North East region.
Appreciating the efforts put in by her artistes, Dr Thaninleima admitted that it would not have been possible to finalise a play like 'Eigi Khongthang Lepkhiroi' without the contribution of each of her artistes.
"The play is the representation of the dilemma faced by Manipuri women in the society and it would be staged in other states and abroad", she added.