Seven Letters: A punch-pack theatrical debut of Laloo, Haridas
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 25 2014: 'Seven Letters' may be just a directorial debut play for Sougrakpam Chinglensana alias Laloo as well as a first full length script developed for stage presentation by Haridas Khongbantabam, a young aspiring playwright; but the message conveyed was so powerful that it made even the seasoned theatrical directors and playwrights to sit up and notice, not to speak of the strong impression it left behind in the minds of the audience long after they left the hall and went home.

Who is going to solve the myriad problems afflicting the Manipuri society today if everyone leaves disappointed with what is going on here? What is their duty and responsibility towards the place of their birth, which gives them their identity? Or, can anyone really stay away disconnected from all that is happening in their home even if they now live in some remote corner of this earth, or for that matter, in the outer universe? These are some of the questions raised in the play, the answers for which are expected to be given by all those who have turned their back on their birth place, home.

A product of the 45-day long residential playwriting workshop cum production conducted by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with Khenjonglang, a centre for theatre research, production and community welfare based at Keirao Khunou, the play was staged at Rup Mahal theatre hall here today as part of the closing function of the workshop.

Thematically, it is a play about a man who loves his society and tries his level best to develop it.

But disappointed by the various obstacles created before him by the wrong-doers in the society, he left home and thought of never coming back.

But his mother advised him to come back and wrote seven letters to his son in this connection.

Each letter represents some major incidents or events occurred in our society that compelled her son to leave the place of his birth.

First letter recounts the childhood of the man and the pang of separation that the mother felt as her son grew up and gradually distanced himself from her.

The second letter talks about the obstacles created by self-interested persons in the society to disrupt and destroy any developmental works.

The third letter speaks about the wrongful actions of the power-that-be in the society that force anyone including the man to think of leaving.

In the fourth letter, the mother explains how strife is created among the people by dividing into groups by powerful men and rulers in the society.

The fifth letter highlights the oppression faced by the people from behind the curtain of preventive Acts.

In the sixth letter, the mother shows to her son about the outcome of such chaos in the society and in the seventh letter, the mother, despite knowing that all the ills afflicting the society today has to be solved by people like her son who have gone away, resigns herself to the fate and said that she would not force her son and would allow him to do as he wishes in life.

But the son realises and comes back home.

Apart from building up the play through exchange of 'powerful' dialogues between the mother (played by W Apana) and her son (played by O Dara) in the form of writing letters and reaction to these letters, representation of the 'incidents' or 'events' with use of audio visual effects in between these dialogues, was a treat to both eyes and ears of the audience.

While Chinglensana's 15-year experiences in various theatrical art forms including Mime could be seen in every action and movement of the characters including those in the Chorus namely M Raghumani, Kh Haridas, Th Krishna, O Premkumzar, L Khekhe, O Yaima, N Johnson, M Bhudha, S Vikramjit, N Pritam (Khoimu), S Niranjoy and S Poireiton, the flawless and thought provoking script that have come from the pen of Haridas Khongbantabam has made 'Seven Letters', a punch-pack theatrical performance to look out for anyone who miss it on its premiere.

The concluding function of the workshop cum production, which was organised with the main objective of scouting young talents who could fill up the void that has been left behind after great playwrights of the State have gone to meet their creators, was attended by Prof N Tombi, Vice Chairman of JNMDA as Chief Guest; Keisham Heramani, Chairman of Rup Mahal Theatre, Imphal as Guest of Honour and Suman Kumar, Deputy Secretary in-charge of Drama, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi as president.

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