Master mimes to meet

Patomomime or mime was till recently considered an European art form. However, there are references to it even in the Natyashastra where it is called ``Mukhabinaya'' -- a silent performance where lots of things are spoken, lots of messages conveyed without uttering a single word.

Since 1976, the Kolkata-based Indian Mime Theatre (IMT) has been working to revive this ancient art form and, for the past three years, it has been organising the National Mime Festival in which professional groups from across the country take part and showcase their talent. In keeping with this tradition, the third National Mime Festival will be held at the LTG Auditorium here from September 10 to 16.

Founded by the eminent pantomime artist, Mr. Niranjan Goswami, IMT claims to be the only professional mime group recognised by the Indian Government. Besides popularising mime throughout the country, it has even initiated steps to establish the National Mime Institute at Kolkata. ``Pantomime is a powerful art and has great potential to emerge as a strong medium of communication,'' Mr. Goswami who has been doing a lot of experimentation with this art form points out.

Sponsored by the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, the National Mime Festival -- which will once again bring into sharp focus the power of pantomime -- is being held in collaboration with the Talent group, which has been working on mime in Delhi with school students. ``The IMT has been utilising this art as a medium of mass communication,'' says Irshad Alam, founder of Talent.

Some renowned mime artists who will take part in the festival include Mr. Moinul Haque who runs the Mime Akademi in Guwahati; Ms. Zarin Chowdhuri of the Kolkata-based ``The Action Players''; Abhay Sinha, director, ``Prangan'' from Patna; Raj Kumar Shah of the Samoohan Kala Sansthan from Azamgarh; Bhumikeshwar Singh of the Delhi-based Pratibha and K. Kaldhar of the Warangal-based Kaldhar Mime Academy.

Along with performances by these artists, there will also be workshops and seminars by experts. Besides Niranjan Goswami of the Indian Mime Theatre, G. Sekhar Babu, a lecturer in Mime at the Theatre Arts department of the PST University in Hyderabad, and Devadas Kanakakala, Director, Marcel Marceau's Pantomime School, will also take part in the various academic activities associated with the festival.

Groups like ``Samoohan'', ``The Mimers'' and ``The Action Players'' have had a long association with the Indian Mime Theatre. The ``Mimers'' has been playing an important role in popularising mime in Kerala and S. Sreekumar, director of the theatre team of Kerala and Bharatisadan Universities, has given shape to more than 100 mime plays. As for ``The Action Players'', it is said to be the only company of hearing impaired actors in India and it has staged successful productions like ``You Light Up My Life and ``Dancing Dolphins''.

With such talented groups out to woo you in silence, it is an event which simply cannot be missed.

By K. Kannan

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