10th Kangla Theatre Marathon underway
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 23 2024:
The 10th edition of'Festival of Folk Narrative Arts & Kangla Theatre Marathon" organised by Kanglei Living Arts (Kangla), Uchiwa under the sponsorship of Ministry of Culture, has begun from Sunday at the auditorium of Manipur Dramatic Union (MDU), Yaiskul.
Theatre critic and playwright Buddha Chingtham and senior theatre director KB Sharma attended the inaugural function as chief guest and president respectively while theatre director MC Thoiba and playwright Nabakumar Nongmeikappam were guests of honour.
The guests also released a souvenir in relation with the festival.
Speaking on the occasion, Buddha Chingtham expressed concern over waning popularity of Manipuri theatre, which once had a prominent place in the global platform through the efforts of personalities like Ratan Thiyam, Kanhailal Heisnam and Lokendra Arambam.
Unfortunately, the theatre movement is now regressing in the state and it needs a serious introspection to find out the causes, an initiative that the state needs the most now.
Without such concerted efforts, Manipur theatre could be relegated to the status of a dying art form soon, he said.
Maintaining that there is no dearth of viewers, the critic said that the theatre community needs to understand the interest of the public and produce plays that touch their interest and sentiments.
Despite boasting of rich art and culture, no major festival related with theatre and any other art forms could be seen in the state lately.
In such situation, efforts made by young and energetic director Premjit in organising the annual festival for the last 10 years is commendable which everybody should support, Budha said and emphasised the importance of platforms to promote theatre productions in order to keep the art form alive and prosper.
The week-long festival will have one exhibition show and 22 other plays from different theatre groups.
Besides, it will also have presentations of folk narrative arts like Khongjom Parva, Khunung Ishei, Pena, Khubak Ishei, Wari Leeba and puppetry.
During the inaugural session, different troupes presented Khunung Ishei, Khongjom Parva and Manipur folk songs.
Later, Cultural Star Academy, Uripok's play "Meerel Langchap" was presented as the first show of the Kangla Theatre Marathon.
Sh Chirol designed and directed the play on the script of Moirangthem Nitishkumar.
The second play was "Soubon Yairen Chanu" of Thangjing Art and Cultural Academy, Moirang.
Mairembam Pramo dramatised and directed the play on the script of Nodiya Ngangoicha.