'Naimu Ama'
Synopsis, Director's Note and Casts & Credits
A Play from Manipur Dramatic Union

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A scene from 'Naimu Ama' played at Maharaja Chandrakriti Auditorium (MCA) on 21st January 2014 :: Pix - Ashok Ningthoujam

The PLAY

Chandra and Kumar are two close friends. Though Chandra is married and Kumar a bachelor, their friendship never deteriorates. One day while Chandra away Kumar came to his home and talked with Chandra's wife Radha. Suddenly Kumar got unconscious and since there was nobody he was taken to Chandra's bed by Radha and served him to bring him back to consciousness. Kumar got better and got up from bed and dressed up for leaving.

At this juncture Chandra came back and saw his friend on his bed and dressing up he was suspicious that his friend was having an illicit relationship with his wife. Bue he didn't disclose his suspicion. However, he spoke to his wife indirectly and later quarrelled with her. Consequently Radha was divorced and set to her maternal home. There she became close with one Binod who loved her very much.

After a long time, Kumar came to Chandra's home and while talking Chandra blame Kumar for having an illicit relationship with his wife. At this Kumar became very angry and after knowing the cause of the suspicious told the incident of that fateful day. After hearing the story, Chandra became repentant. Kumar being suffering from cancer died soon. One day while Radha has became close with Binod, Chandra came and took Radha home.

The Director's Play

Naimu Ama is a play where human lives is organised by Fate. Moreover, the play also deals with human lives where problems crop up due to his weakness, shortcomings, misunderstanding etc. The play mainly aims to show that it is the responsibility of the humans, to think in proper frame of mind in a positive way in tackling with these problems. We should all work together to mind our ways. The play is psychological. The production of the play is mainly aimed to convey this message of the writer to all.

Director of 'Naimu Ama' (from Manipur Dramatic Union)

The DIRECTOR

Born in Yaiskul Hiruhanba Leikai, Imphal, Manipur, 1954 to (L) Th. Shambhuchandra Singh and Thokchom Ongbi Ibemhal Devi. His academic qualification is B.Sc.,B.Ed.

He is presently headmaster of 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles High School. He is the artiste cum Director of Manipur Dramatic Union. As an artiste he acted in more than 30 (thirty) plays. Worked as a Director for M.D.U. in more than 10 (ten) plays. He is an approved Artiste of All India Radio, Imphal. Directed 3 (three) plays of Kh. Brojendro Singh and participated in the Khudungbom Brojendra Drama Festival.

Adjudged Best Director in All India Multi-Lingual Drama competition organised by Allahabad Natya Sangh, Allahabad in 2000. Acted in 8 (eight) Manipuri Films. At present General Secretary of Manipur Dramatic Union, Imphal.

The GROUP

Manipur Dramatic Union, Yaiskui Police Line, Imphal popularly known as MDU, a premier theatre organisation was established on the 15th March, 1931, under the initiative of six founder members -1. Ngangbam Shyamkishwar Singh, 2. Chingakham May Urdhwaja Singh (Durbar Member), 3. Nongmaithem Thanil Singh, 4. Sorokhaibam Lalit Singh (Sadar Panchayat Member), 5. Hijam Irabot Singh (Durbar Member and afterwards popularly known as Jananeta) 6. Khomdram Dhanachandra Singh (S. P of the then State Manipur Police).

On the date of establishment, 15th March 1931, Areppa Marup a Social Play, written and directed by Sorokhaibam Lalit Singh, Founder Secretary was proposed to be staged. The Union produces at least nine Plays including six regular plays viz. new play of 'Ningol Chakkouba' and Cheiraoba Festival which is regularly shown every Sunday and 'Tikendrajit' on the 13th August 'Patriots Day', 'Krishna Avatar' on the Krishna Janma (Birth Day of Lord Krishna and 'Lamyanba Irabot' on 30th September (Birth day of Jananeta Irabot) every year.

The Union so far produced more then 230 plays including short plays. Participated many National Zonal and State Festivals viz. 'Natya Utsav' organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi in collatoration with Dept, of Art & Culture, Govt, of Jammu & Kashmir at Jammu (2000), 'Jaya Utsav' organised by Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Art (IGNCA), New Delhi (2011), Zonal Festival organised by Sangeet Natak Akademi at Kolkata (1991), North East Folk Drama Festival at Aizwal organised by Art & Culture Dept., Govt, of Mizoram sponsored by NEZCC, Rabindra 'Natya Milan' (Festival of Rabindranath Tagore's Plays) organised by Natya Samsad, Tripura sponsored by N.E.Z.C.C. at Khowai (Tripura 2012) etc.

The Play Haorang Leishang Shaphabi written by the noted playwright Sarangthem Boramani Singh and directed by S. Lalit Singh won the best production (Folk Category) in the First National Drama Festival, 1954 organised by National Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi and it is the first time in winning the awards in the history of Manipuri Theatre. It has won many awards at the State and National Festivals and competition. Besides organising Seminar, symposiums, it has been observing 'Artiste Day' on 18th February every year.

Moreover it has been organising 'Ail Manipur Folk Drama Festival' every year. One Drama Training Institute (DTI) has started since 1977. It has started giving 'Khomdram Dhanachandra Memorial Award' in the of the eminent actor, translator and director and the Founder President of MDU Kh. Dhanachandra which is donated by Kh. Dhanachandra Memorial Trust, Imphal to eminent theatre personalities.

See a full Photo Gallery of this play here