IMPHAL, January 8: The Khundrakpam Brajachand Memorial Trust is organising the five-day long Brajachand Theatre Festival from January 11 to 15 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Academy Auditorium to preserve the contributions of late playwright to Manipuri theatre and literature, and to `invigorate contemporary engagements with his works`, stated Professor N Tombi, Advisor of the Memorial Trust, in a press meet at the Manipur Press Club today.
He said Khundrakpam Brajachand is an experimental Manipuri playwright whose untimely death at the age of 45 closed a remarkable chapter in Manipuri theatre and literature. He wrote with a scathing critique of human and social fallacies laced with a sharp humor, he added.
Professor Tombi said the late playwright during his lifetime wrote around 15 plays and left several incomplete works.
The festival organizing committee is going to show only four plays which are the best and which reflect the ethics and ideology of the late playwright, he said, adding the main objective of the festival is to bring new life to his works by giving a chance to the present day audience and readers to witness his works and to encourage young playwrights.
The Trust is also trying to publish the second volume of the works of the late playwright in different languages, he said.
Talking about the festival, Trust member Naba Wereppa said the most critical role in the field of theatre is of the playwright but unfortunately the audience only sees those who are in the limelight leaving the playwright without being explored.
He further said that the festival is the first step towards motivating new writers and also to promote the ethics and ideology of the late Kh Brajachand contained in his plays.
Naba also requested people to watch the dramas shown in this festival and analyse the themes as a tribute to the late Kh Brajachand for his contribution to theatre during his life time.