Elangbam Joychandra Singh : Theatre Personality Profile

Daniel Chabungbam *

Elangbam Joychandra Singh : Theatre Personality

Biodata of Elangbam Joychandra Singh

Name: Elangbam Joychandra Singh
Father's Name: (Late) Elangbam Meghachandra Singh
Mother' Name: Elangbam Priyosakhi Devi
Home Address: Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Leirak Macha

Elangbam Joychandra Singh was born on 24th September, 1927 in an orthodox family at Elangbam Leikai, Imphal. At the age of 14, he became a singer of Nata Sankritana Pala under the guidance of Guru (late) Kh. Gulapi Singh, (late) Natum Singh and Ng. Nimai Singh. With much devotion, he joined the Manipur Dramatic Union (MDU) and acted as Saphaba (Hero) of Haorang Leishang Saphabi in the All India Drama Festival, New Delhi, 1954 and awarded the best play too.

Since then, he acted on the stage taking the main role in many plays of MDU. After some time he felt that MDU gave the theatrical value of social upliftment only to the people of Imphal city and hence he left MDU and founded an organization under the title 'Manipur Artistes Touring Drama Party' to propagate the value of arts of life and culture of a society which was the backbone of social upliftment with peace and harmony to the people of Manipur as a whole staging the drama on touring basis at the villages of Manipur and Cachar (Assam), etc.

Not only the direction of plays, he designed Stage and Light with hand technology of the time before getting electricity to the villages. Besides, he was a playwright, director and singer. As ill luck would have it, his right leg had been attack by a serious disease and immediately hospitalized at Jorhat Missionary Hospital in the year 1957 and cut off his right leg below suffering from amputation. However, he still continued in his theatre works constantly. He is still known as a writer, director, producer, music director, stage and light technician and a playback singer till today.

Elangbam Joychandra Singh : Theatre Personality

Plays written by Joychandra Singh:-

Punshi Pamel, Shageigee Mou, Nimai Sanyas, Ram Leela, BA Lamja,
Khang-nguthakki Chekla, Kathokpa, Sarat Chandani, Pongee Chekla,
Ura Naha Khomjomba, Eikhoigee Lambi, Matamgi Mangal, Yaiphakol,
Lamja Kanano, Phijigee Lal, Nungshi Laman, Ushaman Thambal.

Langjaman, Chingyada Satpi, Engellei, Mangi Thambal, Sati Shija,
Nungshi Leipun, Bhakti Prahlada, Machagi Laithung, Amina, Raj Basanta,
Nungshibagee Laman, Sati Khongnang, Nungshi Balidan, Punshi Nonglei,
Imagee Mani, Shiroy Chingda Shatpi, Nongmadon Leichil, London Merry,
Eidee Katthoklabinee, Yaipha Thoudang, Chaokhat Lambida, Eikhoigee Lambi,
Punshi Lamakhangda, Yaipha Meira, Jai Bharat, Muthatshi AIDS,
Punshi Kanshi, Lambi phaatlu, Punshi Keithel, Meitei Leima, Ningol,
Thajaba, Principal, Ni-ngamdabi, Ningol Pokpi, Nungshi Nongdam,
Nungshi Rajani, Punshi Bondi, Lounamba, Labukta Mani, Bhakta Bibhishon,
Nungshi Basanta, Leimal Challabi, Sakhangdabi, Yokchabee, Basanta Purnima,
Das Rajar, Anouba Punshi, Washak Parei, Griha Laxmi (1st, 2nd and 3rd Chapter),
Anouba Mapok, Nungshiba Echa, Echa Ningol,
Jagat Jibon, Enamma, Yotki Konthong and Rajkumar.

Elangbam Joychandra Singh : Theatre Personality

Plays directed by Elangbam Joychandra:-

Punshi Pamel, Shageigee Mou, Nimai Sanyas, Ram Leela, BA Lamja,
Khang-nguthakki Chekla, Kathokpa, Sarat Chandani, Pongee Chekla, Ura Naha Khomjomba,
Eikhoigee Lambi, Matamgi Mangal, Yaiphakol, Lamja Kanano, Phijigee Lal,
Nungshi Laman, Ushaman Thambal. Langjaman, Chingyada Satpi, Engellei, Mangi Thambal,
Sati Shija, Nungshi Leipun, Bhakti Prahlada, Machagi Laithung, Amina, Raj Basanta,
Nungshibagee Laman, Sati Khongnang, Nungshi Balidan, Punshi Nonglei, Imagee Mani,
Shiroy Chingda Shatpi, Nongmadon Leichil, London Merry, Eidee Katthoklabinee,
Yaipha Thoudang, Chaokhat Lambida, Eikhoigee Lambi, Punshi Lamakhangda,
Yaipha Meira, Jai Bharat, Muthatshi AIDS, Punshi Kanshi, Lambi phaatlu,
Punshi Keithel, Meitei Leima, Ningol, Thajaba, Principal, Ni-ngamdabi,
Ningol Pokpi, Nungshi Nongdam, Nungshi Rajani, Punshi Bondi, Lounamba,
Labukta Mani, Bhakta Bibhishon, Nungshi Basanta, Leimal Challabi,
Sakhangdabi, Yokchabee, Basanta Purnima, Das Rajar, Anouba Punshi, Washak Parei,
Griha Laxmi (1st, 2nd and 3rd Chapter), Anouba Mapok, Nungshiba Echa,
Echa Ningol, Jagat Jibon, Enamma, Yotki Konthong and Rajkumar.

In recognition for his works of theatre, Elangbam Joychandra was honoured by different organizations and the government.

Punshi Pamel, a play written and directed by him was awarded with Best Actress in the All Manipur Drama Festival 1964, Sageigee Mou was awarded Best play, best actor, best supporting actor in the All Manipur Drama Festival, Khanguthakki Chekla (2nd chapter) was awarded best play, best director, best writer, best supporting actor in All Manipur Drama Festival and Kathokpa was also awarded best actor in All Manipur Drama Festival.

Prestigious honour of Elangbam Joychandra Singh:

o Natya Charya by Akhil Manipur Kala Sanmilon in 1985,
o Natya Bhusan by Manipur Sahitya Parishad in 1987
o Gold Medal in Republic Day celebration by Chief Minister in 1987
o Akademi Award by Manipur State Kala Akademi in 1992
o Bharat Excellency Award in New Delhi in 1999
o Meitram Bira Award by Rup Mahal Theatre, Imphal in 1999
o Film Taibang Award by Film Taibang journal in 2000
o Certificate of honour by APSARA in 2002
o Manipur Phambak Leela Award by Arts and Culture department Manipur in 2003
o Memorandum of Achievement by Kala Kshetra Manipur in 2003
o Sangeetkar Drama and Theatre by Roop Raag Manipur in 2003
o Manipur Phampak Kumhei Shinsuremba by Panthoibi Natya Mandir Manipur in 2004
o Certificate of Honour by Apunba Manipur Matam Eshei Kanglup (AMMIK) in 2004
o Fellowship Award by Manipur State Kala Academy in 2004-05
o Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2007

See more photos on Elangbam Joychandra and his plays here