Manipuri Theatre celebrated its 15th anniversary with a performance of traditional Manipuri Natapala and the troupe’s recent production “Kohe Birangana”. The event was held on September 23 at the Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Seasoned actor-director Mamunur Rashid was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony. He lauded the endeavour of the theatre troupe which runs its activities from the remote Ghoramara village under Kamolganj upazila of Maulvibazar district. Rashid said others should emulate the path of Manipuri Theatre to achieve success.
One of the main goals of the Manipuri Theatre troupe is to popularise Manipuri performing arts and culture across the country. Towards this end the troupe invited Manipuri Natpala Shilpi Shangstha to stage traditional Natapala.
Manipuri Natpal usually narrates the akhyan (story) of Radha, Krishna with a strong essence of Vaishnavism. Incorporating traditional Manipuri dance and music, the performance features local instruments such as mridanga, dhol and kartal.
A shorter version of the pala was held at Shilpakala Academy and ran for around half an hour. Directed by noted artiste of the genre, Bidhan Chandra Sinha, 11 artistes gave a soulful performance. The rhythm, tempo and beats of the instruments as well as graceful movements of the performers enthralled the audience.
Later Manipuri Theatre staged the 25th show of the monodrama “Kohe Birangana”. The play has been written and directed by Shubhashish Sinha, chief of Manipuri Theatre. The play is based on Michael Madhusudan Dutt’s “Birangana Kabya”.
“Birangana Kabya” features the agony of major female characters from the epic “Mahabharat”.“Birangona Kabyo” has 11 verses, from which Shubhashish has adapted or his play. The play features stories of Shakuntala, Draupadi, Dushala and Jona.
Jyoti Sinha enacted the role of the four woman characters in the play.
In the course of its 15-year journey, Manipuri Theatre has produced 27 plays. Some of its notable productions are “Shri Krishna Kirtan”, “Dhajo Mestorir Maron”, “Ingal AndharPala” and “Kohe Birangana”. The troupe has also published a journal, “Manipuri Theatre Potrika”.
Manipuri Theatre will organise another programme on the occasion in the local ambience in a couple of days.
-With The Daily Star input
