 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(July 2010) |
Drama was brought into the Kokborok-speaking population by the Yatra (Jatra) performers of Bengal. The rulers of Independent Tripura were the first to present and perform drama in Tripura. Though in the beginning the presentations of yatras (jatras) were limited to the Royal Compound, in course of time it came out of the royal compound and mass people also began to enjoy it and join it.
Having the basic foundation to perform in the open-air theatre, Kokborok-speaking people came to compose and present drama in their language during the period of the Tripura Janasiksha Samiti Movement (1945-late 1950s). "Agiya Chalo" written by Sudhanya Debbarma was the first drama in Kokborok.
After "Agiye Chalo" "Lamani Homchang" was presented in 1973 by the Kokborok Sahitya Sabha, written and directed by Alindab Tripura. In the middle 1970s many groups came to present theatre using modern style, sound and music, etc. "Thwi Phuta" was one of the popular ones during this time, as also "Somaj Kiphildi" and "Yamorok". Hemanta Jamatia, a renowned musician and actor became very popular at this time due to his acting in "Thwi Phuta" and has also been awarded by the Sahitya Academy.
"Nobar Domsani Kothoma" composed by Nanda Kumar Deb Barma was presented by Kokborok Sahitya Sabha in 1983. They also organised a Kokborok Drama Festival from 1988 and exposed many groups and talented artists to the audience. Some of the groups have been awarded at the national level in India. Kokborok Sahitya Sabha also presented a drama "Kwplai" by Nanda Kumar Debbarma at Tezpur, Assam in 1989.
"Lampra (theatre group)" another theatre group started productions in 1990s with the most attractive "Chamari Ompa" Lampra won first prize in Yatra Utsav 1995 with the marvellous production "Chethuang", based on a popular Kokborok folk tale. "Tiyari Drama and Cultural Centre" won second prize in 1996 with "Khumpui". Since then, they have produced many popular plays like "Swkal", "Kuchuk Kherembar", "Kuchuk Ha-Sikam" etc. Ruhi Debbarma is the pioneer and organising personality of Tiyari.
"Sampili Theatre Centre" formed in 1997 has presented excellent dramas in this short period, including tele-serials such as "Rung", "Imangni Bwsarok", "Longtoraini Eklobyo". All these above-mentioned groups are based in Agartala the capital city. Others such as "Khorang" of Mandai, "Dugmali Cultural troupes" of Abhichoran Bazaar are also leading groups.
In such a short period of history Kokborok has developed a quite modern drama groups and talents at both regional and national levels without much support from the state government. Regular workshops, symposia, discussions and festivals regarding Kokborok drama are being encouraged now by the people.
Bubar, Mukunne, Kokkisa, Koktanghai, Mari, Randijwkma, Sikhok, Reg-Swnam, Bolongni Muktarwi Sarao, Koktun Khotalbai, Kwplai, Kantomoni, Imangni Bwsarok, Shehi Bukhukswk Ha, Nuai, Rung, Sundurjak, Yapiri, Dogar, Longtoraini Eklobyo, Bwsak Kaisao, Da-kuphur, Chobani Swkang, Swkango Choba, Kotor Buma-Bwsa
Agartala is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Tripura, situated on the banks of Haora/Saidra River, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east of the border with Bangladesh and about 2,499 km (1,552 mi) from the national capital, New Delhi. According to 2022 AMC data, Agartala is the third most populous city after Guwahati and Imphal in Northeast India. It is India's third international internet gateway and being developed under the Smart Cities Mission.
Kokborok is a Tibeto-Burman language of the Indian state of Tripura and neighbouring areas of Bangladesh.
Dasarth Debbarma was an Indian Communist politician in the Indian state of Tripura. He was chief minister of Tripura from 1993 to 1998. He was a leader of the Ganamukti Parishad and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was also the vice-president of All India Kisan Sabha and first and yet only Tiprasa chief minister of Tripura.
The Tripura Baptist Christian Union (TBCU) is a Baptist Christian denomination in Tripura, India. It has its head office in Agartala, the state capital. The TBCU is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF) and the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). It is also a member church in the North East India Christian Council (NEICC), a regional church body of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI).
Khumulwng is a town in the West Tripura district in the Indian state of Tripura. It is the headquarters and the largest town of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council.
The Tripuri are a Tibeto-Burman-speaking ethnic group of Northeast Indian state of Tripura. They are the descendants of the inhabitants of the Twipra/Tripura Kingdom in North-East India and Bangladesh. The Tripuri people through the Manikya dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Tripura for ~450 years until the kingdom joined the Indian Union on 15 October 1949.
Kokborok (Tiprakok/Tripuri) is the native language of Tripuri people in present Tripura state in Northeast of India. During the 20th century many of Royal family and its officials contributes to develop the Kokborok language in many ways.
Debbarma is the main clan of Tripuri community, predominantly in state of Tripura, India and Bangladesh who speak Kokborok, a Tibeto-Burman language.
Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Debbarma Bahadur was a king of Tripura State.
Pradyot Manikya Deb Barma is the current titular King (Maharaja) and statesman from Tripura. He was born in New Delhi, and now resides in Agartala, Tripura. He also served as the editor of TNT-The Northeast Today. He is the current chairman of The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance also known as TIPRA Motha. He is known as 'Bubagra' among his people and is one of the active voices for the rights of Indigenous Tripuri people of Tripura.
Kokborok Sahitya Sabha (KBSS) was formed on 8 October 1972, under the leadership of Alindralal Tripura. Since then, it has been working on the development of Kokborok, a Tibeto-Burman language of Tripura (Twipra). KBSS has its offices in Agartala, the state capital.
Birendra Kishore Manikya Debbarma Bahadur ascended the throne of the Kingdom of Tripura on 25 November 1909, at the age of 26.
Mathia is a 2004 Indian Kokborok-language full-length feature film. It is written and directed by Joseph Pulinthanath and stars Meena Debbarma, Jayanta Jamatia and Amulya Jamaita.
Sudhanwa Debbarma was an Indian Kokborok writer, Political leader and member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was the former Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly. He was the veteran leader of Ganamukti Parishad. He was a member of Tripura Legislative Assembly from Takarjala (1977-1988).
Nanda Kumar Deb Barma is a Tipra playwright, poet and lyricist from Tripura. He is known for his works of literature in Kokborok language and Kokborok Drama. Nanda Kumar Deb Barma is author of novels such as Rung (2001), and compilations of works such as Thungnuk Bwchap (2015). He has been one of the active advocates for Kokborok development in the field of literature and education and is the president of Kokborok Sahitya Sabha.
Kokborok Cinema refers to the Kokborok language film industry in Tripura, India and among the Tripuri people. Tripura's Kokborok film industry began in 1986 with Longtharai (1986) directed by Dipak Bhattacharya adapted from Bimal Sinha's novel Karachi theke Longtharai depicting the struggle-ridden life of jhum cultivators in the rural hills of Longtharai followed by the Kokborok film Langmani Haduk (1993) directed by Ruhi Debbarma can be read as a critique of the modern regime. The Kokborok film Mathia (2004) directed by Joseph Pulinthanath, is the first International Award-winning Kokborok film.
Yarwng is a 2008 Kokborok feature film produced by Don Bosco Sampari Pictures Tripura, written and directed by Joseph Pulinthanath. The story of the 95-minute feature film revolves round the large-scale displacement which happened in Tripura state, in northeast India, when the newly built Dumbur dam (1970s) submerged huge areas of arable land in the fertile Raima valley about 40 years ago. The film won the first national film award for Tripura at the 56th National Film Awards in (2008)
The National School of Drama, New Delhi, has established its camp office National School of Drama Theatre-in-Education Wing Tripura in conjunction with the Department of Information & Cultural Affairs and Higher Education, Government of Tripura, in Agartala, with effect from 17 November 2011. The wing provides a one-year residential PG certificate course in Theatre-in-Education to students from the Northeast, the rest of India, and around the world.
Langmani Haduk is a 1993 Tripuri feature film in Kokborok language directed by Ruhi Debbarma that portrayed patriarchal norms through what may be referred to as "feudal familial romance." It took inspiration from the well-established social/family melodramas of Hindi cinema.