Malem Ima dance-drama spreads message of climate change
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 04 2019: Spreading awareness about the rapid depletion of forest, degradation of the environment and the climate change, Sanchaali, a centre for performing arts, presented a dance-drama titled Malem Ima at JNMDA today.

Artists of Sanchaali performed the dance-drama, which was produced as part of the two month workshop cum production of Malem Ima, organsied at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy on June 29, under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, GoI.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Design, Choreography and Director of Sanchaali, Haobam Marak Ngangom Leikai Imphal, Lata Thounaojam said that the dance-drama is based on the poetry book called Prakratina Tengthaba, which was written by the former Minister of Art & Culture Dr Moirangthem Nara when he was holding the office in 1993 .

Malem Ima dance-drama spreads message of climate change

The director of the dance drama further stated that through Malem Ima (mother earth), awareness is raised on the importance of saving and reviving the environment through the process of aforestation, reforestation, recycling and conservation of essential elements like water and creating alternative energy sources, waste reduction, pollution control and preservation of natural flora and fauna.

She underscored the need to preserve the environment and sustain resources for the future generation and also to avoid unwanted incidents in the days to come.

As The Sangai Express watched the play, Malem Ima opens with a Kanistha, which is a small Raga.The background rhythm plays obeisance to the Malem Ima over the performance space.

Mother nature was seen moving here and there among nature's beauty showing unending happiness and satisfaction.

In the first scene, men and women are seen working and singing merrily.

Among them is a girl and a young hunter, who expressed their feeling of love by singing folk songs.

And at that moment came some miscreants who destroyed the peaceful surrounding.

Meanwhile, in the next scene, the girl and her friends goes to pluck Yaipal when the young hunter appears.

He fixes a flower to her ear and the girl in return offers him a Nachom.

Then the scene ended with both dancing together in a harmonic beauty.

In the scenic beauty of Loktak lake, people fish, unfurl the Long (indigneous equipment used to catch fish) while some women were seen sailing boats.

On the other hand, the young hunter comes and aims at the birds flying around the lake using his catapult.

Hearing him come, the birds flew away.

The hunter and his friends, in the consecutive scene, cut plants and trees after performing a tree-cutting ritual.

As the temperature increases, people become unberable to the sudden change while Malem Ima grows pale with pain and sorrow.

The last scene shows the young hunter going out to hunt Sangai amidst the degrading and grave condition and at the moment, the young girl and her friends are plucking Yaipal.

While chasing the animal, the young hunter hits the girl with his arrow thinking her to be the most rare animal of the planet.

The injured girl breathes her last on the spot while the young hunter cries at his utmost voice.

Malem Ima too cries with unbearable pain and agony witnessing the heart breaking tragic scene.

A group of 29 people including 19 artists and musicians successfuly performed the dance-drama.