The festival is aimed at popularizing the theatrical art form of ‘Mime’ in Manipur while at the same time consolidate the national integration process through this art form.
TFM Report by Keisham Donny
The Second National Mime Festival (April 15 to April 19) is currently underway at the complex of Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory (KMTR) at Langthabal Kunja near Konsum Oil Pump, Imphal.
The festival is sponsored by the North Eastern Council( NEC),Shillong under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNer). The main aim of this festival is to popularise the theatrical art form of ‘Mime’ in Manipur while at the same time consolidate the national integration process through this art form.
Besides the host state, mime teams from Mizoram, Assam,West Bengal, Bihar and Rajasthan will participate in the festival. Workshops on Mime,Thang Ta and Yoga will be an integral part of the five days festival.
RK Ranjan Singh, Union Minister of State (External Affairs and Education) and Leishemba Sanajaoba, titular king and Rajya Sabha MP of Manipur graced the inaugural function of the festival as the chief guest and president respectively at the KMTR complex. The inaugural function showcased mime plays such as “Illusions”,”Dentist” and “Love” directed by Suvendhu Mukhopadhay and Subrata Das from Kolkata.