KATHMANDU, March 18: Hindi drama 'The Departed Dawn' directed by Bimal Subedi has been nominated in six categories of India’s prestigious theater award ‘Mahendra Excellence in Theater Awards (META)’2023.
The play has been nominated in six categories including best production, best innovative sound design, best actor in a lead role (male), best choreography and best light design. Bimal Subedi has also been nominated in the best director category.
Among the dramas staged across India, this award will be given to the best dramas of various genres. ‘The Departed Dawn' was selected from 495 and ranked among the top 10. The 10 plays selected in this way are from this March. It will be staged in Delhi from March 25 to 29.
Theaters back into operation
Subedi has stated that he prepared the play to make a film depicting the situation of Nepali-speaking Bhutanese who were forced to leave their homeland. He said that he prepared the story to make a film nine years ago but as he could not sketch the story into film due to various reasons, he converted the story into a drama.
Playwright Subedi has the aim of presenting Nepali stories on the world stage and that the drama he has written and directed, being selected in one of the top 10 dramas in India, feels like he has been able to take the initial steps for his aim.
“This achievement is a matter of pride for Nepal and Nepali Theater as a whole. Nepali story should go around the world," says Subedi.
Among the various categories of performing arts, there are many awards in the category of cinema all over the world in drama, such programs are rare. He also believes that reaching the Nepali story in the competition is a rare opportunity.
Since this story is narrated by Nepali-speaking Bhutanese and this is being staged on an international stage, the play is expected to help amplify the suppressed voice of the community.
Bimal Subedi has prepared this play along with Victor Thoudam of Akhoka Theater in India. A play produced by Nepal’s ‘Theater Village’ and ‘Akhoka Theater’ of India, has also received Serendipity Arts Grand Award in 2019.This play will be performed at Shri Ram Center in New Delhi on March 25.
The play 'The Confession' written and directed by Bimal Subedi was staged at the National School of Drama in New Delhi just a few days ago. Plays written and directed by Subedi have been performed in Nepal, India, China, Pakistan, Thailand and the UK.
