Shumang Leela Festival : Chumthang artistes' present "Kumgi Nongju Lakpa"
Source: Chronicle News Service / Mission Oinam

Imphal, February 24 2023: Chumthang Creative Artistes' Association presented its new play, "Kumgi Nongju Lakpa" on the sixth day (Nupa/male category) of the 51st All Manipur Shumang Leela Festival 2022-23 organised by Manipur State Kala Akademi at Th Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound here on Thursday.

The play has been written by Mani Tayenjam and directed by Loitongbam Dorendra, who also plays the character of 'Minister Chopishak' .

The other male characters have been portrayed by Yambem Sana (Tonsana), Tensubam Thoungamba (Ibohal), Laishram Kribas (Yaima), Yumnam Jogendra (Ibungosana), Thokchom Raju (Inspector Neiba), Khuraijam Ito (Mainou), Tayai Loken Chajing (PRO) .

The female roles were played by Soibam Jagat (Chaobihan), Sagolsem Shanti (Sanatombi), Phanjoubam Birendra (Thabaton) and Oinam Jafiya (Editor) .

Meanwhile, the backstage included Bruce Thokchom (male voice), Ningthoujam Pahari (female voice), Aribam Romikanta Sharma (Tabla), Chingangbam Bode (Guitar/ music direction), Ngangbam Rabi (Keyboard), Naorem Kenedy Meitei (Pad Drum), Yengkhom Ajit (flute) and Tayai Loken Chajing (lyricist).

In "Kumgi Nonju Lakpa", Tonsana is a benevolent and compassionate contractor based in Imphal.

After his wife's death, he marries a village girl.

However, his son from his previous marriage, Ibungosana is misogynistic and ill-mannered person.

Tonsana's second wife gives birth to a son and a daughter, Yaima and Thabaton, before passing away shortly after.

Yaima and Thabaton grow up well, with the former becoming a doctor and the latter a nurse.

Both are posted in Imphal and come back to their father's place only to be turned away by Ibungosana, thinking that they were greedy for property.

Both siblings then seek refuge at house of their neighbour Chaobihan, who also has a son and a daughter.

The son, Ibohal is a graduate but unemployed and as such, drives an auto rickshaw to earn money, while daughter, Sanatombi is doing her graduation and is a blackbelt in Taekwondo, competing in many national-level championships.

After some time, Ibohal and Thabaton fall in love with each other and Yaima and Sanatombi also develop a romantic relationship.

Meanwhile, minister Chaopishak and Inspector Neiba collude with another and collect large sum of money from the people wit h promise of providing jobs.

Ibungosana, who likes Sanatombi, becomes jealous after learning she is in a relationship with his half-sibling Yaima.

As such, he conspires with Inspector Neiba and secretly hides a gun under the seat of Ibohal's auto rickshaw, before arresting him on charges of concealing/carrying a weapon.

Ibungosana then abducts Sanatombi, and kills her after sexually assaulting her.

Unable to bear her daughter's death, Chaobihan also passes away.

Ibohal, who has lost both his mother and sister, stabs both Inspector Neiba and Ibungosana to death.

Branded as a murder, Ibohal talks to Thabaton for the last time, promising to return when the monsoon season arrives (hence, the name of the play, "Kumgi Nongju Lakpa") before leaving.

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