IMPHAL, January 21: Noted Manipuri theatre exponent Heisnam Kanhailal will be conferred with the prestigious Padma Bhusan Award, 2016. This was announced in a release by the Press Information Bureau, Government of India. He is among the list of 19 people who will be honoured with the award by the President of India.
It said Padma Bhusan, the third highest civilian award is given for ‘distinguished service of high order’ in various disciplines of activities which include art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service etc.
It may be mentioned that Heisnam Kanhailal established the theatre group Kalakshetra Manipur in 1969. For 47 years, the group has been working to create a theatre idiom based on physical rather than psychological language, driven by instinct and intuition, and exploring the specific powers of theatre in the context of Manipuri indigenous culture. The effect is one of simplicity, high lyricism, and moving humanity. At its most fundamental level, Kanhailal’s theatre upholds the poetry of the human spirit.
With his wife and leading actress Sabitri, Kanhailal creates theories of theatre and life. Their creative partnership had performed Tamnalai (Haunting Spirits, 1975), Kabui Keioiba (Half Man Half Tiger, 1975), Imphal ’73 (1974), Pebet (1975), Huranbagi Esei (1977), Laigi Machasinga (1978), Mrityu Shwor (1984), Memoirs of Africa (1975), Roshomon (1987), Migi Sarang (1991), Karna (1997), Draupadi (2000), Nupi (2002), and Dakghar (2006).