Lamjung’s local play ‘Panighatta’ to represent Nepal in Kolkata int’l theatre festival

‘Panighatta’, a social play based on the rural Lamjung setting, written and directed by Puru Lamsal, being staged at a Besisahar theatre of Lamjung district on Thursday, February 1, 2018. Photo: Ramji Rana

LAMJUNG: A social play based on the rural Lamjung setting has been picked to stage in ‘International Theatre Festival’ taking place in Rabindranagar of Kolkata in India from February 23 to 25. The play ‘Panighatta’ is scheduled to be staged on February 24.

Manjari Theatre Group of Lamjung has staged their second play ‘Panighatta’, which portrays issues and values of a rural Lamjung society, at a Besisahar theatre of Lamjung district on Thursday. Panighatta is the only Nepali play selected to be staged in the fourth Shambhu Mitra & Bijan Bhattacharjee Smriti Natya Utsav in Kolkata.

Panighatta was selected for the festival as the panel highly appreciated the story, subject-matter and script of the play. Professor of Tribhuvan University Dr Ashok Thapa organised the submission of this play to the festival in Kolkata.

The play is currently being staged in a theatre in Besisahar Municipality of Lamjung since Thursday. It will have five shows in total, which will be showcased till Saturday, February 3, at the conference hall of the District Coordination Committee in the district. The showtimes for both Friday and Saturday are 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, informed Manjari Theatre Group.

Written and directed by Puru Lamsal, the 75-minute-long play Panighatta has received positive responses from the audience, which has motivated the production team even more. Lamjung’s rural set-up, local art and culture, traditions, language, livelihood, and the issues invited by foreign employment have been beautifully and artistically crafted in the play into which the natural-looking performances of the 18 local actors add life.

“The play convincingly represents the existing rural scenario, aggravated by the gradual out-migration of youth seeking employment opportunities, and the rapid flow of young people to urban areas. The villages lack young human resources, the lands are not yielding crops, and only elderly population remain. These issues are well reflected in the play,” said Kalpana Pariyar, a local resident and audience.

Kedar Bohara, Head of Manjari Theatre Group said, “The drama also depicts Lamjung’s raw tone along with the prevalent social subject matters. Manjari Group has already staged street plays, short plays, and plays in fairs and festivals portraying the society, which shall continue in the days to come.”

“We have attempted to represent social issues, background, art and culture of the area through the drama and we are very happy to receive positive responses from the audience,” said Director Lamsal.

Panighatta or watermill is closely associated with our Nepali culture, however, it is going out of use. Hence in the play, it is being used as a symbol of preserving our local culture and traditions, which is the main motive of the team, who through this medium also aim to introduce Nepali culture in the international arena.

The show has been staged by Manjari Theatre Group in collaboration with Lamjung District Coordination Committee and Besisahar Municipality.

Prior to this, Lamjung’s theatre had showcased another Lamsal-directed play ‘Fadke’ for the first time in its history, which had also been well received by the audience.

A book named ‘Panighatta’, also written by Puru Lamsal, has been jointly launched on Thursday by parliament member Dhananjaya Dawadi, and former parliament member Jamindra Man Ghale, head of Manjari Theatre Group Kedar Bohara, and writer/director Puru Lamsal. The book comprises last year’s play ‘Fadke’ and the current ‘Panighatta’.

“Most important aspect in staging a play is the play house or theatre. The place which does not have a theatre for staging plays is not complete in my opinion,” said Dawadi while launching the book and expressed commitment to render his full support in building a theatre in Lamjung.