Sougrakpam Hemanta (Oja Tolhan)

Shougrakpam Hemanta (born 1969) is a Manipuri comedian, actor, writer and director, who has worked in various Shumang Leelas and Manipuri films. He is well known for his role of Oja Tolhan in Eegi Mahao and his potrayal of the titular role in the movie Mantri Dolansana. In 2017, he was conferred the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in recognition of his contribution in the traditional Manipuri theatre Shumang Leela. With this, he became the first person to receive the award for this art form. Shougrakpam Hemanta is also the lifetime secretary of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council. Hemanta joined Shumang Leela in 20 December 1982. In the beginning of his career in the field of performing arts, he was not well received and did not receive patronage from his parents. With his strong courage and determination, he continued to learn the basics of the traditional theatre form. He had received guidance from renowned theatre personalities like L. Ibotombi Sharma, N. Angouton Meetei and T. Nabakumar Singh. He received the first Best Comedian award for his role in the Shumang Leela Sharat Ritugi Purnima. He has acted in more than 70 plays. Some of his well known plays include Lidicigee Gulap, Memsahebki Saree, Kanchi Ashram and Ningol Chakkouba. He has also directed more than 20 Shumang Leelas and wrote around eight plays. He bagged the Best Director Award and won Best Comedian Award 25 times. His is popularly known as Oja Tolhan for his comic role of a teacher in the movie Eegi Mahao. His titular role in the comedy-genre film Mantri Dolansana is also vividly remembered till today by the cinema lovers of Manipur. He has directed a movie named Shakhangdaba.