Imphal, November 28 : Banian Repertory Theatre\u2019s critically acclaimed Manipuri play- Kumudini is among 19 plays selected for the 29th Nandikar National Theatre Festival to be held from December 16 to 25 this year at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata. During this 2012 edition, the Nandikar will pay tributes to Mohit Chattopadhyay and Sunil Gangopadhyay; and a seminar on Theatre and Integration will also be held.
\nThe Nandikar will issue passes to be available from the Academy ticket counter between 1pm and 7pm from December 9. The available denominations are Rs. 40, Rs. 60 and Rs. 90.
\nThe annual Nandikar National Theatre Festival is the biggest theatre carnival of Kolkata and one of the largest in the country as well. The festival provides a platform for the stalwarts and amateurs alike for not just participants from all over India, but also from the international arena.
\nManipuri play- Kumudini directed by M. C. Thoiba and scripted by Dr. M.C.Arun introduces an individual Manipuri woman in the socio-political sphere as voluntary actor.
\nMaharani Kumudini is the wife of Maharaja Gambhir Singh, who liberated Manipur from Burmese occupation during the Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (The Seven Years Devastation). Maharaja Gambhir Singh died, when his eldest son Chandrakirti was only two. Kumudini found herself in the middle of palace intrigues and attempts by Gambhir
\nSingh\u2019s brothers and relatives to wrest the throne. She ultimately succeeded in installing her son to the throne, but it was no mean feat for a woman.
\nMuch has been discussed about Manipuri woman. Some have put them on a pedestal. Others say, women are exploited in our society. It is a confusing scenario. The play revolves round a contemporary radical who seeks answers on different facets of contemporary Manipuri woman and her position in the socio-political sphere, in the backdrop of the life and times of Maharani Kumudini.
\nThe play explores the collective and individual womanhood, her desperation and dreams, woman\u2019s space in kinship and political position, power and the patriarchal cultural order in Manipuri society.
\nKumudini will be staged on December 23 at 6.30 pm. Kumudini produced in 2007 was recently performed at Hyderabad and Tirupati in the 7th Abhinaya National Theatre Festival 2012in the month of August. A theatre critic- Gudipoodi Srihari in the HINDU in its edition dated 23rd August 2012 wrote, \u201cThe four-day-long All India Theatre festival held by Abhinaya was an eye-opener revealing how other language plays are designed to win audience with commitment in choosing themes and coming out with forceful productions. Here was another excellent production by a Manipuri team of artistes, titled \u2018Kumudini\u2019, staged at Ravindra Bharati. It was the last play of the festival.
\nDespite the inability to understand their language, the audience was totally immersed, following thematic substance.
\nThe subjects they choose were quite novel and experimental too. M.C. Thoiba who was actively involved in theatre movement handled this production with utmost care. Crowd scenes, rebellions were well handled\u201d.
\nThe plays selected for this year\u2019s festival are Sukhmani Kohli\u2019s Romeo Juliet and Seven Clowns, Saurabh Nayyar & Nitin Bhardwaj\u2019s Ram Sajeevan Ki Prem Katha, Supriyo Chakraborty\u2019s Hridmajhaare, Vinay Sharma\u2019s Atmakatha, Choiti Ghosh\u2019s A Bird\u2019s Eye View, Suman Mukhopadhyay\u2019s Shunyo Shudhu Shunyo Noy, Anurupa Roy\u2019s Across
\nthe Sea, Ranjit Kapoor\u2019s Chekov Ki Duniya and Adamzaad and Panchlight, Nasir Uddin Yusuf\u2019s The Tempest, Anup Hazarika\u2019s Charandas Chor, Dr Tapanjyoti Das\u2019s Tathagata, Subodh Pattanaik\u2019s Biplabi Bihanga, M C Thoiba\u2019s Kumudini, Baharul Islam\u2019s The Green Serpent, Debabrata Maity\u2019s Lakkoner Shoktishel, Swatilekha Sengupta\u2019s Tushaarmalaar Deshe, Debsankar Halder\u2019s Anto-Aadi-Anto and Swatilekha Sengupta\u2019s Madhabi.Anup Hazarika\u2019s Charandas Chor and Baharul Islam\u2019s The Green Serpent are two Assamese plays from Assam to take part in the festival.<\/p>\n\n