The Plays
Nagamandala | March 5, 2012, 5 pm, Sri Ram Centre
Director - Abinash Sarma
Nominated for: Best Play, Best Director, Best Stage Design, Best Lighting Director, Best Innovative Sound Design, Best Costume Design, Best Actor in a leading role (Female), Best Supporting Actor (Female), Best Ensemble, Best Choreographer
Producer - Zerifa Wahid Production
Director: Abinash Sarma
Language – Assamese
Duration - 1hr 50min
Nagamandala, the play with a cobra, based on two oral Kannada folk tales, was translated into English by the playwright Girish Karnad himself. It is the story of Appanna and Rani. The story within a Story narrative form comes alive in the darkness of the night when a sleepless writer meets a group of glimmering flames and together they watch a fascinating “STORY” unfolding right in front of them.
Director’s Note
Every production that I have been able to stage in front of the theatre lovers, tests my calibre as a theatre activist, and Nagamandala is no exception. Surrealism as it sounds indeed teases the fantasy of reality and a subject that needs a proper medium to make you carry home the message which serves the basic purpose of a staged story. A very alluring piece , both for its interesting storyline and the beautiful portrayal of characters, Girish Karnad’s Nagamandala is indeed a director’s delight as it possesses the challenge of deciphering a mythical folklore into a lucid and entertaining piece. Karnad has been a critic of the rise of religious fundamentalism. And I hope through my way of presenting his legendary creation, I haven’t deviated myself from his paved way of conveying a social message.
Nominees:
Abinash Sarma Best Director
Abinash Sarma is a noted theatre organizer, director/playwright with an added expertise in Fine Arts and Scenic Design. In each of his productions he introduces creative insights and new styles of representation. He has directed more than 50 plays including 3 plays in Hindi, which have traveled to several festivals and places. His plays have been performed on stage, radio and television, films and serials.
Anita Sharma Best Choreographer
A leading Sattriya exponent from Assam, Anita Sharma learnt this dance form under Padmashree Jatin Goswami. She has compelling and arresting stage presence. She has also been trained in Odissi under Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee, Smti Garima Hazarika and later under the tutelage of Padmabibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She is an ‘A’ graded artist of Doordarshan Kendra, New Delhi.
Jolly Laskar Best Supporting Actress
One of the most renowned theatre, radio & television personality of Assam, Jolly Laskar is also a prolific folk dancer. She is most popularly known for her moving performances in plays like Fatema Bibir Ghar, Piyoli Phukan, Bhogijora, Shikaar etc. Jolly Laskar is also a popular voice in the airwaves of Assamese radio.
Mrinal Jyoti Goswami Best Lighting Director
Mrinal writes plays, research articles and works as a director, theatre trainer and designer. He has worked with many noted theatre personalities from Assam and outside. He is actively involved in research and documentation of Assamese Theatre. Currently he is doing his thesis towards doctoral degree on ‘A Study on Contemporary Assamese Theatre (1967-2003) in the Light of Social Realism and its Performatics’ Under Gauhati University, Assam.
Rani Dutta Baruah Best Costume Design
Rani Dutta Baruah is the pioneer in the field of costume design in Assamese theatre and cinema. She is also an accomplished Odissi and Kshatriya dancer. Her forte also includes designing of dance costumes of various classical and creative dance forms. She has received the coveted Chaman Lal Memorial Society Award for Excellence in Costume Design 2006.
Yachinur Rahman Best Innovative Sound Design
Yachinur is a young and enterprising sound engineer, having graduated in the field of sound technology from a prestigious sound engineering institute of Assam. Yachinur has created unique sounds in over twenty plays directed by several renowned directors of Assam, Yachinur is also an accomplished stage actor and is also involved in several television productions in the sound department.
Cast and Credit
On Stage
Kopil Bora: The Playwright
Zerifa Wahid: Rani
Ratul Das: Appanna
Bulganin Baruah: The Cobra
Jolly Laskar: Kurudawa
Tanvi Sarma: Kahani, the Story
Antariksh Saharia: Kappanna
Garima Mazumdar: The Main Flame
Sanjana Baruah: Flame 1
Reneesha Saikia: Flame 2
Jyotismita Baishya: Flame 3
Jinti Kashyap: Flame 4
Gautam Bora: The Dog
Bolin Choudhury: Village Headman
Anupam Laskar: Villager 1
Jayanta Jeet Das: Villager 2
Bhrigu Kumar Mishra: Villager 3
Tibrajyoti Bairagi: Villager 4
Uma Kanta Sonowal: Villager 5
Arif Ahmed: Villager 6
Pranab Gogoi: The Whale
Off Stage
Playwright: Girish Karnad
Design And Direction: Abinash Sarma
Assamese Translation: Utpal Datta
Asstt. Director : Runi Sarma
Background Score: Abinash Sarma And Yachinur Rahman
Choreography : Anita Sarma
Costumes: Rani Dutta Baruah
Makeup Artiste: Tibrajyoti Bairagi, Mantul Barman
Light: Mrinal Jyoti Goswami
Set: Uma Kanta Sonowal
Chief Production Co-ordinator: Manash Sarma
Production Assistant: Arif Ahmed
