Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 12 2010:
Along with presenting this year's Thokchom Iboyaima Award to Akham Niladhabash, the 9th Shumang Leela Numit was observed at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen here today.
Organised by Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, the observance function was attended by Education Minister L Jayantakumar as chief guest and president of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council Ph Gunachandra as function president.
Advisor of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council Dr M Nara and L Tarpan Singh were also present at the occasion as guests of honour.
Delivering the key note address, Shuman Leela artist Iboyaima recalled that at one time, there were no specific Shuman Leela groups and the popularity of a play was known by its name or the artists who acted well in the play.
So to ensure development of the art form of Shumang Leela, a joint meeting of the artistes was held on April 12, 1984 and it led to the formation of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council.
It was to commemorate this memorable day that April 12 is being observed as Shumang Leela Numit every year since 2002 to show homage to the departed Shumang Leela artistes.
He further informed that along with observing April 12 as Shumang Leela Numit since 2002, an award called Thokchom Iboyaima Award to he given to an artistes for his outstanding contribution towards the popularisation of the art form had been instituted.
The award carries Rs 10,000 in cash, a citation and a shawl.
The award was this year was presented to Akham Niladhabash during the function.
Born on March 1, 1948 at Wangkhei Thangjam Leikai, Niladhabash started his artistic career as a artiste of the then Manipur Theatre in 1967 playing various roles.
He had also worked as the director of Cosmopolitan Dramatic Union for some time.
So far, Niladhabash has directed over 18 plays successfully including the widely acclaimed Moirang Sha, which he himself had designs based on the art form of Nat Sankirtan.
He had also successfully made use of the narrative art forms like Khongjom Parva, Wari Leeba, Lairik Thiba-Haiba, Pena Phamshak, etc in this plays.
It was in appreciation and recognition of all his valuable contributions that the award has been given to Niladhabash, Iboyaima explained.
In his address as chief guest of the function, Jayantakumar observed that Shuman Leela has been playing a major role in highlighting social issues.
To mark the occasion, artistes of Sanaleibak Nachom Artistes, Manipur Co-Artistes' Association, Sangai Artistes' Association and Peace Maker Artistes' Association presented cultural programmes.