Heisnam Kanhailal was born in the year 1941 in Imphal. He began his career in Manipuri theatre with occasional inputs in student drama and club shows. He joined Tongbras Society Theatre and, later, the Student Artistes` Association where his efforts facilitated admission into the National School of Drama in 1968. However, he could not continue there since his creative aspirations did not allow him to prolong confinement in a system. Returning to Imphal, he formed Kalakshetra in 1969, and started to search for an authentic expression through experimentation with Manipuri culture and traditions. He introduced his new form of theatrilization on Tamnalai i.e. `Haunting Deities`in 1972, about youth unrest. After a brief association with Badal Sircar in 1973, Heisnam Kanhailal invented a minimalist school of physical expression with lithe movements and playful form, and a distinctively lyrical style of short masterpieces like Pebet in 1975, which traveled to Japan in 1987 and Egypt in 1991. Some of the others can be mentioned as Memoirs of Africa in 1985, Migi shamng i.e. `Human Cage` in 1991, and Dratipadi in 2000. They made waves in modern, poetic, and ethnic theatre, reflecting the social discontent and human anguish of Manipur`s disturbed polity. Viewers saw Pebet, based on a folk story about birds outwitting a cat, as anti-Indian and anti-Hindu.

Kalakshetra has done more than thirty productions, most featuring prominently Kanhailal`s actress-wife, H. Sabitri. After gaining national attention, Kanhailal undertook individual projects for the Ford Foundation, New Delhi, on acting methodology. This initiated his contact with various groups and theatre people all over the country, spreading his concept of ritualism, non-verbal energy and creativity of the self through workshops and collaborations. Heisnam Kanhailal founded a private school of performance art in 1997.

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