5th March 2010 at Sri Ram Centre, 5:00pm
Producer: UTSA
Director: Bidyawati Phukan
Language: Assamese
Duration: 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Subha, an accomplished Dhulia, is in love with Ghunusa, his teacher’s daughter. The girl is exceptionally gifted-‘lotus blooms in her steps, the cuckoo sings in her gaze and she has only to wish, and it rains.’ The villagers, battling a drought, arrange a ritualistic marriage of frogs to invoke rain; but it pours only when Ghunusa breaks into a dance. Damodar, Shubha’s brother, is also besotted by Ghunusa and asks for her hand in marriage. Ghunusa’s brother, Gambhir, unhappy with the proposition, proposes that Ghunusa marry the man whose buffalo emerges winner in the buffalo fight. Shubha’s buffalo wins; Ghunusa confesses her love for Shubha; Putuli, Damudar’s neglected wife is invited into the fold, as the community joyously celebrates the renewal of life.Director’s Note:
The Bihu festival is an integral part of Assamese society. The three Bihus, performed at different times of the year, herald new seasons, new agricultural/ farming cycles, with the Bihu songs and dances celebrating the vegetation myth in myriad ways. The very essence of this music and dance reflects our longings, the need for life to germinate, and the inextricable link between Nature and Man. Every Assamese child grows up with the spirit of Bihu deeply entrenched in his/her psyche. After my stint at the National School of Drama, I longed to do a play that would reflect the very essence of the Assamese way of life. I am grateful to Leela Gogoi for the novel Noi Boi Jai, the inspiration behind this production; and to the playwright Pankaj Jyoti Bhuyan for being a consant source of encouragement.
On Stage:
Damodar: Sailen Duwari
Shubh: Sunit Kumar Bora
Buffalo: Bikas Kataki/ Montu Gogoi
Kanti: Deep Borpatra Gohain
Thanu: Biswanath Gogoi
Aadi: Debojit Gogoi
Mulyaban: Ashim Sonowal
Bharat: Montu Gogoi
Gujar Dhulia: Basanta Chutia
Gambhir: Bipanjit Gogoi
Frog: Deepmoni Rajkonwar
Grandson: Punyajit Moran
Putoli: Manju Rajkonwar
Ghunusa: Padmaluchana Konwar
Parua: Sumi Borgohain
Keteki: Pallabi Gogoi
Dabohi: Punya Gogoi
Nagayani: Bidyawati Phukan
CHORUS: Mantu Gogoi, Deepmoni Rajkonwar, Bikas Kataki, Bipanjit Gogoi, Punyajit Moran, Basanta Chutia, Sunit Kr. Bora, Ashim Sonowal, Deep Borpatra Gohain, Debojit Gogoi, Sailen Duwari & Biswanath Gogoi
Off Stage:
Music: Anil Gohain
Production Controller: Bipul Phukan
Asstt. In Sets: Deep Borpatra Gohain, Biswanath Gogoi, Sailen Duwari & Debojit Gogoi
Properties: Basanta Chutia, Bipanjit Gogoi, Montu Gogoi & Punyajit Moran
Light: Anil Gohain & Khirud Gogoi
Costume: Manju Rajkonwar, Padmaluchana Konwar, Sumi Bor Gohain, Deepmoni Rajkonwar, Sunit Kr Bora & Bikas Kataki
Make up: Pallabi Gogoi & Punya Gogoi
Training: Prasanna Gogoi & Mausumi Saikia Gogoi, Golok Moran & Durlava Moran
Play: Pankaj Jyoti Bhuyan
Design & Direction: Bidyawati Phukan
NOMINEES
1. Best Director: BIDYAWATI PHUKAN
2. Best Actor in a Supporting Role-Female: MANJU RAJKONWAR
3. Best Actor in a supporting Role-MALE: SAILEN DUWARI
4. Best Choreography: BIDYAWATI PHUKAN
5. Best Sound Design: ANIL GOHAIN
6. Best Lighting Design: ANIL GOHAIN AND KHIRUD GOGOI
7. Best Costume Design: MANJU RAJKONWAR, SUMI BORGOHAIN
8. Best Stage Design: BIDYAWATI PHUKAN
9. Best Ensemble:
9. Best Ensemble:
Sailen Duwari, Sunit Kumar Bora, Bikas Kataki, Montu Gogoi, Deep Borpatra Gohain, Biswanath Gogoi, Debojit Gogoi, Ashim Sonowal, Montu Gogoi, Basanta Chutia, Bipanjit Gogoi, Deepmoni Rajkonwar, Punyajit Moran, Manju Rajkonwar, Padmaluchana Konwar, Sumi Borgohain, Pallabi Gogoi, Punya Gogoi, Bidyawati Phukan, Mantu Gogoi, Deepmoni Rajkonwar, Bikas Kataki, Bipanjit Gogoi, Punyajit Moran, Basanta Chutia, Sunit Kr. Bora, Ashim Sonowal, Deep Borpatra Gohain, Debojit Gogoi, Sailen Duwari & Biswanath Gogoi
Bidyawati Phukan
A graduate from National School of Drama, Bidyawati Phukan has intensive training in the basics of physical culture and dance forms. She has acted in and directed plays for UTSA and has also acted in the lead role in the Assamese feature film Aai Kot Nai directed by renowned filmmaker Manju Borah. Right now she is working as an actor as well as a theatre worker with the troup UTSA, Assam, a centre for research, training and performance.Manju Rajkonwar
Trained in Seagul Theatre Academy; Manju had rigorous residential training in the craft of acting under the guidance of H. Kanhailal and Ima Savitri. She has worked as an actor in films, TV serials and with renowned theatre persons. Presently she is working as an actor as well as a theatre worker with the troup UTSA, Assam.Sailen Duwari
A folk artist, singer, musician Sailen Duwari started his life in theatre since childhood with acting in the traditional theatre form Ankiya Bhaona of Assam. He has worked with renowned theatre personalities Abhilash Pillai, K.M. Adil Hussain, Ettumanur P. Kannan, Danish Iqbal. He has participated in several national and international theatre festivals with his performance in Guti Phulor Gamusa all over India.Anil Gohain
With a diploma in theatre, Anil is an eminent actor, directer, and designer in Assamese theatre world. Having participated in many theatre workshop organised by National School of Drama, he worked with renowned light designer Sri Achyut Kr Baishyain for two years. He has designed sound, music and light for the plays chiriyakhana, Stationor Aahin, Guti Phulor Gamusa, Bol Senai Taloike etc. He has also worked with many renowned theatre directors.Khirud Gogoi
Khirud Gogoi has been an eminent light designer and technician in Assamese theatre since the last fifteen years. He has done light design for most of the theatre troupes of Assam viz. Kathia, Puhar, Pather, Samay, Akharaghar, Suryamukhi, Sutradhar Natyamancha, UTSA and others. His major productions as a light designer are Rupalim, Karengar Ligiri, Miri-jiori, Ulonga Raja, Guti Phulor Gamusa, Bol Senai Taloike and many others.Sumi Borgohain
Actor, dancer, singer and designer, Sumi Borgohain has participated in theatre workshops organised by National School of Drama, New Delhi. Major productions as an actor and costume designer are Guti Phulor Gamusa and Bol Senai Taloike. She has participated in national and international theatre festivals all over India.
