GKCA's festival of solo performance (Pung Cholom, Kartal Cholom & Dance)

Rajmani Ayekpam *

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal on 1 April 2015 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Now-a-day, solo performance is becoming very popular in every field of performing arts. Solo performance is not only an ultimate test of his / her artistic caliber of any artist and on the other hand it gives more economy to the organizers. In a group composition, any individual's room for showing his / her best talent is very limited. But, in a solo performance, any talented artist can show best of his / her artistic caliber. So, to this day's world of performing art, Solo performance is gaining its popularity day by day.

Manipuri classical dance also extended its popularity through solo performance. Though group composition has more attraction to audience than solo performance but for organizers they prefer solo performance due to its economy point of view. Besides, Manipuri classical solo dance can able to give more space to the artist who had experiments his / her creative exercise. On the other hand, solo performance is more suitable to this day's fast life style. So, most of this day artiste has more attention to solo performance than group performance.

In the midst of this day's fast competitive world of performing arts, a new entrant in this field i.e. Guru Kulla Cultural Academy (GKCA), Khurai Sajor Leikai, Imphal East with a strong determination, has organized successfully two day Festival of Solo Performance (Pung Cholom, Kartal Cholom & Dance) at the auditorium of Sangeet Kala Sangam, Khurai, Lamlong from 30 to 31 March, 2015 under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. The said festival of solo performance may able to give a new dimension in the history of Manipuri performing art.

Pung and Kartal has been an integral part of famous Manipuri Nat Sankirtana. It is known that Nat Sankirtana has been declared as an intangible heritage by UNESCO. However, Nat Sankirtana can't complete without Pung (Manipuri drum) and Kartal (Cybil). But, Pung and Kartal have no distinctive identities in Nat Sankirtana and played as accompanist artistes. When any Pung and Kartal artist come out as a soloist it has distinctive identities. On the other hand, it doesn't come across against dos and don'ts of the Nat Sankirtana.

Earlier, Manipuri classical dance has no tradition of solo performance. In course time, Solo performance has been introduced to Manipuri classical dance and many talented artistes of Manipuri classical dance attempted to become a good soloist. Now, Manipuri classical solo dance raise the level of Manipuri classical dance at a higher level. This is a good sign of growth in Manipuri classical dance.

The GKCA's festival of Solo Performance (Pung Cholom, Kartal Cholom & Dance) opened a land mark in the history of Manipuri performing arts. The festival expanded the horizon of Manipuri performing art. Earlier, it has only solo performance in Manipuri classical dance. Now, we have two solo performances of Pung Cholom and Kartal Cholom. An art enthusiast who witnessed GKCA's festival of Solo Performance he / she will be proud of having two more beautiful solo performances in Manipuri performing arts.

On the first day of the festival, there were three solo performances i.e. Mairembam Maniton Singh's Pung Cholom representing Education & Cultural Harmony Organization (ECHO), Moirang, Maisnam Hemolata Devi's Manipuri classical dance representing Institute of Manipuri Performing Arts (IMPA) and last performance of the day was Thounaojam Haridas Singh's Kartal Cholom representing Guru Sanaton Apunba Hari Sankirtan Neinashang, Sagolband.

The second but the last day of the festival there were four performances i.e. Soibam Boy Singh's solo performance of Pung Cholom representing Guru Angou & Ibotombi Memorial Meitei Pung Arts Centre (GAIMMPAC), Brahamacharimayum Sanjita Devi's solo performance of Manipuri classical dance Khurai Kala Vidya Bhavan, Khurai, Laishram Premjit Singh's solo performance of Kartal Cholom and the concluded this festival with the group performance of festival organizer i.e. Guru Kulla Cultural Academy's Shri Harigi Sayon Tara based on Dasha Avatar.

The six solo performances and one group performance easily entertained the enthusiastic crowd beyond expectation. Pung cholom and Kartal cholom have enough potential to entertain audiences. We have seen potential of Pung cholom in Devi (Lairema) Dhumen during the Durga Puja festival but couldn't see the potential of Kartal cholom. If we performed more such festival in future the more potential of Pung cholom and Kartal cholom could be seen. It can rise at the level of Manipuri classical dance. Even, enthusiastic art lover must have opportunity to witness beautiful solo performance of Pung cholom and Kartal cholom other than Manipuri classical dance.

But, the song accompanied the solo performance of Pung cholom and Kartal cholom have slightly dominant position during the performances. Perhaps, at some instances the performances have controlled by songs. In order to increase the intensity of performances of Pung cholom and Kartal cholom have to increase intensity than songs accompanied. What I want to suggest is that the solo performances should be more in secular art form than more in religious.

More inclination to religion shall be limited when experiments were done. Among Indian classical dances, Kathak has more popularity and experiments than other classical dance because of its secular outlook. Any performing art can grow when it able to stand independently. The group performance of GKCA's Shri Harigi Sayon Tara may able to give another look of Manipuri performing art. Mixing of Palas (Nat Sankirtana) and the classical dancers in a composition may be one of the boldest attempts in Manipuri performing art.

Another interesting point was that Nat Sankirtana has no post graduate course like classical dance in major institutions of the state mentioned by T. Biswhojit Singh in his vote thanks speech was very important to discuss. It is said that Ras Dance, the very important part of Manipuri classical dance is the extension Sankirtana. If so, why not have Nat Sankirtana Post-graduate course in institutions like JNMDA and Department of Dance and Music in Manipur University.

It is not an exaggeration to say that GKCA's Festival of Solo Performance will make an avenue in the history of Manipuri performing arts.