Manipur Theatre Day observed
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 21 2023:
Theatre Centre, Manipur observed Manipur Theatre Day - 2023 at the auditorium of Manipur Dramatic Union, (MDU), Yaiskul Police Lane, here, on Saturday.
Manipur State Kala Akademi secretary Sunanda Thokchom, MDU president Soraisam Keshoram and art & culture deputy director G Dharmadas Sharma attended the observance as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
Theatre Centre also presented its annual awards Lalit Ningshing Khudol, 2023 to professor M Akshaykumar, and Ibechaobi Ningshing Khudol, 2023 to Yumnam Rajan on the occasion.
Both the awards carry Rs 10,000 in cash, citation, shawl and headgear (Kokyet) each.
Speaking on the occasion, Dharmadas recounted the century-old journey of Manipur theatre while expressing concern over the present condition of proscenium theatre in the state.
It is important to retrospect the movement of proscenium theatre in the state and its status in the national and international arenas today.
Except for some accomplished theatre personalities like Ratan Thiyam and late Heisnam Kanhailal, the state lacks young and energetic personalities in this field, who can lead Manipuri theatre to a new height, he said.
On the other hand, there are also several drawbacks causing the backwardness of Manipuri theatre and the unsound economy of the state is one of the most important setbacks.
Art and Culture Department is also helpless in providing support.
However, the BJP government has taken up some new initiatives to support artistes such as Chief Ministergee Artisteshingee Tengbang (CMAT) Scheme, under which monthly pension is being provided to 253 artistes including 102 from proscenium theatre and 151 from Shumang Leela.
Apart from Rs 53 lakh for production, the department has also an additional budget of Rs 78 lakh for extending financial assistance to artistes, he said.
Floral tributes were paid to the photo of late Sorokhaibam Lalit while remembering his contribution to development of Manipuri theatre.
A two-minute silence was also observed in honour of late theatre director Naba Wareppa, a Padmashree award winning theatre director, as part of the observance.