Asang Eina Aton
- A bilingual play in Tangkhul and Manipuri -

The Sangai Express *

After the successful debut performance at Tongou village in Ukhrul district on June 15, 'Asang Eina Aton', a bilingual play in Tangkhul and Manipuri language is all set to win over the hearts of the theatre goers through a special show at the auditorium of JN Manipur Dance Academy here on July 5 .

Based on Tangkhul folklore, the play is an outcome of the 45-day long theatre workshop cum production programme conducted jointly by Khenjonglang, Imphal and Meisum, Ukhrul from May 1 to June 15 at Tongou as part of the Extension Programme of the National School of Drama.

A scene from the play Picture Credit :: Enaomacha Salam (Hueiyen Lanpao)

The play has been scripted by Ashing Zimik and the design and direction by S Thanileima of Khenjonglang. The duration of the play is around 2 hours.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen at Palace Compound today, Thanileima, who is not only the director of Khenjonglang but also the director of the theatre workshop cum production, informed that acting specialist and light designer from National School of Drama have come down to impart training on various aspects of theatre during the 45-day long workshop cum production at Tongou attended by 30 participants.

Taking into account of the talent of the participants and the knowledge imbibed from the training programme, it was decided to produce the play Asang Eina Aton with the main objective of promoting the art and cultural elements of Tangkhul, Thanileima said, adding that for better understanding of the people, Tangkhul dialect as well as Manipur language have also been utilised in the dramatisation of the play.

It is also being planned to take the performance of the play not only to other parts of Manipur but also to Delhi, Thanileima disclosed, adding that after its successful debut performance at Tongou on June 15, the play would be presented to the people along with a simple function at JN Manipur Dance Academy on July 5 starting from 4 pm.

The function would be attended by general secretary of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee Victor Keishing, chief of Tongou village AS Wungmatem and retired professor of Manipur University Dr N Tombi as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

At the occasion, certificates would also be presented to all the participants of the theatre workshop, Thanileima said.

See a gallery on this play here.

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* This review was featured in The Sangai Express on June 30 2009 Edition. This article was webcasted on July 30, 2009.

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