Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, December 30:
Eminent theatre director Elangbam Joychandra Singh and renowned Pena exponent K Mangi Singh from Manipur are among 33 practitioners of music, dance, theatre and puppetry selected for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2006.The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi under the chairmanship of its chairman Ram Niwas Mirdha met on December 27 last in New Delhi and elected four eminent personalities namely Gursharan Singh, Kishan Maharaj, Rohini Bhate and TN Krishnan as Fellows of the Akademi and selected 33 artistes for Sangeet Natak Akademi 2006.Elangbam Joychandra is a director in Manipuri theatre who established touring Drama Company and propagated Manipuri theatre in every nook and corner of the State and Manipuri inhabited areas of Assam and Tripura.
Now, there are theatre troupes in every locality in Manipur.
Perhaps it might be the result of his lifelong dedicated effort in the field of touring drama.
In field of theatre direction, the Akademi had honoured Heisnam Kanhailal in 1985, Ratan Thiyam in 1987 and Arambam Lokendra in 2004..KMangi Singh is the first Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee in the field of Pena, the traditional music of Manipur.
In the Akademi's record, no one has received the award in this traditional and typical music of Manipur, though the instrument is the part and parcel of Manipuri life and its culture.
The award carries a cheque of Rs.50,000, a shawl and a brass plaque.