Author Mai Van Thanh, storyteller using Cham cultural materials

(NLDO) - October 20th celebrates Vietnamese Women's Day, which is also the Kate Festival to which author Mai Van Thanh has many valuable contributions.

Author Mai Van Thanh

At the 2025 Stage Script Writing Camp organized by the Vietnam Stage Artists Association in Tam Dao - Phu Tho (from October 10 to 17), author Mai Van Thanh, former Deputy Director of the Ninh Thuan Provincial Cultural Center (old), was highly appreciated by experts with the script "Nhan Mu-Ta - More than a love".

The work uses Cham folk cultural materials to convey contemporary social issues, expressing a humanistic vision and clear identity.

From propagandist to intellectual playwright

Starting his career as a propagandist for the Ninh Thuan Mobile Information Team, Mai Van Thanh won a national gold medal in 1993 for his skit "The Salty Taste of the Sea" (author Le Hung Thanh). After the team merged with the Provincial Cultural Center in 1998, he pursued a professional artistic path, attending an MC training course in Ho Chi Minh City and a scriptwriter and stage criticism training course organized by the Department of Performing Arts (2008-2009).

Under the instruction of great names such as writer Chu Lai, People's Artist Doan Hoang Giang, Associate Professor, Doctor Tran Tri Trac..., he accumulated a solid theoretical foundation to embark on the journey of script writing with a profound perspective on national culture.

Authors Hong Yen and Mai Van Thanh rehearse a skit in preparation for the closing ceremony of the Tam Dao Writing Camp - 2025

Mai Van Thanh with his creative mark through each script

Before "Nhan Mu-Ta - More than a love", he had achieved success with a series of works: "Behind the sunset" (Category C for stage script), "Huong dat" (written about Cham pottery village, staged by artist Kim Oanh and won Silver Medal at the National Television Festival), "Duoi canh cay banyan" (adapted from reformed opera, C prize for the theme "Learning from Uncle Ho's example").

In "Nhân Mư-Ta", Mai Văn Thành tells the love story between HaLy and Jathan, two young people from two communities: Cham Brahmin and Cham Islam. The work conveys the message: only knowledge, love and courage can dispel hundreds of years of religious prejudice.

The symbol of the Mu-Ta ring becomes the soul of the script – the eternal circle connecting two people, two religions, two generations.

From left to right: Author Mai Van Thanh, People's Artist Giang Manh Ha, author Tran Kim Khoi and People's Artist Lan Huong

Mai Van Thanh - Stage language imbued with Cham identity

The dialogue interwoven with Cham language, music with Paranung drums, Saranai trumpets, Kanhi lutes, and folk songs "Ben nuoc tinh yeu" (Love Wharf), "Nguoi tinh oi" (Oh lover)... have created a unique artistic space. Symbols such as the cactus (resilient vitality) or the fire burning the bodies of Jathik and Thon (the past is resolved by the light of knowledge) show the author's ability to organize dramatic images with rich layers of meaning.

"Mai Van Thanh's dialogues and dramatic stories are carefully crafted and cherished by him, so that the play touches the hearts of viewers when they think about the hard-working Cham people who love life" - Playwright and writer Nguyen Thu Phuong said.

Author Mai Van Thanh at "Cactus World - Tam Dao" in 2025

From Tam Dao to Khanh Hoa – continuing the cultural journey

Immediately after leaving the Tam Dao - Phu Tho creative camp, he returned to Khanh Hoa to participate in performances and organize art programs to celebrate Vietnamese Women's Day October 20, in the exciting atmosphere of the Kate Festival 2025 - the first festival to implement the Project "Preserving and promoting the values ​​of the Kate Festival of the Cham people, period 2025-2030".

Khanh Hoa is a province with a large Cham population and a unique cultural heritage system: temples, ancient towers, festivals, customs, folk literature and art, and a rich treasure of traditional knowledge.

Among them, the Kate Festival – a national intangible cultural heritage – is the biggest festival of the Cham people following Brahmanism, taking place every year around September or October. This year, the festival is held from October 20 to 23, with many new features to increase its attractiveness, making the festival a typical cultural and tourism product of the Central coastal region.

Authors Le Thu Hanh and Mai Van Thanh at the Tam Dao Stage Creation Camp 2025

The ceremony includes sacred rituals such as carrying costumes, bathing the statues of gods, dressing the gods and grand ceremonies at the temples; the festival is vibrant with folk games, brocade weaving competitions, pottery making, traditional music and dance performances, and community exchanges. This is also an opportunity for the Cham people to honor their roots, strengthen solidarity and spread cultural values ​​to the community.

Culture – the endogenous strength of the community

For Mai Van Thanh, the journey of writing and cultural activities is a continuous flow. From the script "Nhan Mu-Ta - More than a love" to his participation in art programs at the Kate Festival, he continues to prove that: culture is not only the memory of the nation, but also the source of life energy that helps the Cham community rise up and keep up with the development of the times.

He is preparing to perform an art program at the closing ceremony of the Tam Dao Creative Camp 2025 with the participation of many famous artists from across the country on the afternoon of October 17, including: People's Artist Trinh Thuy Mui - Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations - President of the Vietnam Stage Artists Association; People's Artist Le Tien Tho, People's Artist Le Chuc, People's Artist Lan Huong, Cheo author Pham Ngoc Duong, author Ngoc Truc, Hong Yen, Pham Van Dang, Truong Minh Thuan (Co Chien), Vu Thu Phong, Minh Nguyet, Bui Hong Que, Nguyen Toan Thang...

"I really liked reading the script by author Mai Van Thanh because he integrated folk material into the play very well, described the fate of the characters very humanely, clearly showing the spirit of solidarity of the Cham people. His play also brings a breath of new life, tightening the village and neighborhood ties" - People's Artist Giang Manh Ha said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tac-gia-mai-van-thanh-nguoi-ke-chuyen-bang-chat-lieu-van-hoa-cham-196251016155050315.htm