I must say that it has been a great weekend for me and for Kohima. Nothing could have been better than to get to enjoy good music and see the best plays that I have ever seen in Kohima. Well it all happened on Friday and Saturday. Friday was a real treat, the occasion being the launch of the debut album of Nise Meruno, the celebrated and widely acclaimed pianist, composer and musician. I must say that Nise is truly gifted and the way he performed shows the true professional he is. It is widely believed that we have real talented singers and musicians, but I must say that those like Nise are rare. He has really honed his natural skills and talent by going through formal training in music in Singapore and Trinity, London and it shows. A good singer or a musician becomes a true professional when he adopts the fine art of performing on stage. Kudos to Nise. He is really blessed and we all look forward to many more albums and performances from him.
While Nise really enthralled us, I must also say that I was quite impressed by the performance of Ballad Fusion that evening. The array of compositions presented by them was truly amazing. Whether it was the Circle of Life medley or Go The Distance, they excelled. Heart of Dreams by Bethel was quite original. She too is really gifted and I am sure we are going to hear more of her in the days to come. The whole show was conceptualized by Hope Productions and I must say that Team Hope is doing a great job in promoting music and talent in the State.
If Friday it was music, I was treated to theatre on Saturday. It was the concluding function of the Intensive Theatre workshop organized by National School of Drama and North East Zone Cultural Center. They staged snippets of 3 plays and I could not believe that just 45 days of training can result in such beautiful productions. Full marks to the Directors and the trainers from NSD and I am sure this venture will draw many of our youth to theatre which is one of the most creative art forms. The participants truly excelled – whether it was presenting Technicolour Dreams or A Doll’s House or Scapin the Scoundrel.
Technicolour Dreams was one show which should not have been missed by anyone. If you live in Kohima, Dimapur or Mokokchung and you missed the play, you truly have missed something big. This performance was so creative and so original and it depicted present day realities that we all face that not only makes us laugh but also retrospect and introspect as to what can be done to set things right. The snippet that they staged on Saturday showed the complications we face in view of the multi ethnic communities, languages and values and customs. The link language amongst people – Nagamese – howsoever we may detest, is a reality. We have different tribes having their own way of speaking and interpreting Nagamese and life for someone who can not communicate in this crazy language can really be difficult specially in our cities, as depicted in the play. This play makes us think as to what do we do with Nagamese. Should we just let it be as it is or should we try to adopt it as a uniform language with providing for proper grammar, syntax and including common words from across various languages spoken in the State.
Moliere’s Scapin the Scoundrel was truly present in the signature comic style and provided humorous anachronisms and funny situations. The actor who played, Scapin, the clever scheming servant of Geronte, is a most amusing, likeable scoundrel who makes us complicit with his schemes. The social satire presented in the play is still relevant though it is more than 300 years that the play was written.
Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House traces the awakening of Nora Helmer from her unexamined life of domestic comfort. Ruled her whole life by either her father or her husband, Nora must question the foundation of everything she believes in when her marriage is put to the test. Having borrowed money from a man of ill-repute named Krogstad by forging her father's signature, she was able to pay for a trip to Italy to save her sick husband's life (he was unaware of his condition and the loan, believing that the money came from Nora's father). Since then, she has had to contrive ways to pay back her loan, growing particularly concerned with money. The actor who played Nora really excelled showing a wide range of emotions and looked to be quite an accomplished performer. She has great potential and will do very well if she takes to theatre.
The performances had musicals also which made strong statements on the problems our society is facing today. Whether it is killings, fight for supremacy, drugs, HIV, the performers exhibited the strong resolve and will of the youth in having a stake in improving things. Overall, the plays were staged beautifully inspite of the limitations of stage, equipment and time. Full marks to NSD and NEZCC for brining such a show to Kohima. I am sure if these, in particular, Technicolour Dreams, are staged in other districts also, it will draw huge crowds. So Social and Cultural organizations, if interested, may get in touch with the NEZCC office in Dimapur.
Thus music and theatre kept me away from the other negative happenings in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and our very own Parliament. Sometimes one wonders where are we headed for. Blasts and killings of civilians is the most barbaric thing that can happen anywhere. What happened in Delhi during Trust vote was shocking and sad for our democracy. If elected representatives can be bought and sold, what future do we have. Collectively, as a nation, we need to reflect on these issues and as citizens need to take strong stands.
I wish we are able to focus more on positive things like music and theatre. Infact I got another piece of good news last week. A young guy named Toshi Sangtam from Dimapur has qualified for the theatre round of Indian Idol. He is to perform in Mumbai on August 5 and needs everyone’s blessings, help and support and later SMS votes. At the same time I am waiting for the launch of the third edition of our very own Naga Idol from Mokokchung. I am sure my erstwhile colleagues in MDACC must be making big plans for this years show.
