Dr.Dharamvir Bharti’s Kanupriya is a colourful bouquet of love poems which is both modern and traditional in genre having a touch of metaphysical poetical trend of early Classical Sanskrit literature.The unparallel Leela of Radha and Krishna exemplify infinity in love with a pang of separation syndrome. Each word carries a weight of every tragic moment experienced by Radha and that is where the tragedy enhances its emotional quality with spiritual depth. Such feelings are portrayed successfully by the poet; the never-ending journey of love and attachment portrays a charismatic larger than life picture.The emptiness of a vessel without water and a flower without a fragrance is equal to a body without a soul. But the world of Kanu and Kanupriya sets an example of both Parimit and Aparimit – a very important issue of understanding binary behaviour and philosophical interpretation behind the meaning of love.
Playwright
Dharmavir Bharati (1926 –1997) was a renowned Hindi poet, author, playwright, and a social thinker of India. He was the chief editor of the popular Hindi weekly magazine Dharma Yug, from 1960-1987. Bharati was awarded the Padma Shri for literature in 1972 by the Government of India.
Director
Ratan Thiyam was an illustriousalumnus of National School of Drama, New Delhi. Born in a family of artistes, he evolved as a multi-faceted designer, music composer, choreographer, light and costume designer, architect, playwright, painter, and a poet.In 1976, he started Chorus Repertory Theatre Company at Imphal,which pioneered the Indian theatre scenario with experimental productions, scenography, and evolved a novel performative language. He was felicitated with several national and international awards and accolades like the Sangeet Natak Akademi award (1987), Padmashri (1989), La Grande Medaille(1997, France), International Man of the Year in the field of Theatre and Humanism (1998-99), B.V. Karanth Smriti Puraskar(2004), Kalidas Samman (2006), SIU-KA-PHA National Award (2006), John D. Rockefeller III Award(2007, Asian Cultural Council, New York), and Alkazi Foundation Award (2008).Mr. Thiyam received the Fellowships& Special invitations from Ford Foundation (USA), Manipur State Kala Akademi (Imphal), Japan Foundation (Japan), and Korean Foundation (Seoul).
Director’s Note
Kanupriya is a saga of creation and a critique of love, romance, finite and infinite, spiritualityin the inner space of human journey. Experimental in nature and verses full of ironical ideas, the unexpected tragedy and loneliness are depicted sensitively without hurting the protagonist. But the pain silently tortures the rest of days of Kanupriya.The play involves musical compositions, dances, scenography, choreography, trained artistes, designers etc. to be able to interpretKanupriya – a garland of both romance and tragedy – an exhibition of emotions, rasa, and reflection of a Divine soul.My style of presentation is an interaction of different traditions and performing attitudes in contemporary Indian Theatre.
Group
The Chorus Repertory Theatre, established in a valley of Manipur in 1976 by late shri Ratan Thiyam, accommodates a self-sufficient way of life with housing and working quarters for the company. On its 25th anniversary, the company established its permanent theatre, “The Shrine”, a 200-seat auditorium conceived and designed by Ratan Thiyam.Few of the acclaimed productions of the groupareChakravyuha, Uttar-Priyadarshi, Urubhangam, Andha Yug, Hey Nungshibi Prithivi, Chinglon Mapan Tampak Ama, Ashibagee Eshei (adaptation of Ibsen’s ‘When We Dead Awaken’) and Macbeth. The group’s productions garnered several awards like the Indo-Greek Friendship Award, 1984 (Greece); felicitated in Festival of India, 1987 (USSR); Fringe First Edinburgh International Theatre Festival Award, 1987; felicitation in Diploma of Cervantino International Theatre Festival, 1990 (Mexico) and several others. The group’s productions have been staged in several national as well as international theatre festivals. The group has performed in many regions, cities, and countries like London, Delphi, Kalamata, Thessalonica, Kavala, Athens, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Yaroslov, Minsk, Borisova, Southampton,Omagh, Amsterdam, Gainsborough, Bradford, Queretaro, Guanajuato, Cruz-A-Zul, Guayaquil, Quito, Havana, Manizales, Lima,Bogota,Thimphu, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Wellington, Zurich, Kathmandu, Tokyo,Shizuoka,Taipei, Yilan, Bonn, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Sydney, Melbourne, Dublin, Oslo, Rome, Mumbai, Dublin, Cardiff, Glasgow, New York, Washington DC, New Delhi; in France, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Brazil, South Korea;and in 7th Theatre Olympics – 2014Beijing, 8th Theatre Olympics – 2018India, and 9th Theatre Olympics – 2019 Toga, Japan.