Irshad Panjatan is the only internationally acclaimed Mime artists from India. The Septuagenarian has also acted in a few Hollywood Movies ‘Manitou’s Shoe’, ‘Free Rainer’, ‘Iron Sky’ and ‘God is no Soprano’.
Irshad is capable of glibly slipping into the role of a woman who’s dressing up to meet her man, who goes about putting hairclips in her bun, making pleats of the saree she’s about to drape, or about the innocence of a child he efforlessly tries to portray. Though not having received any formal training, Irshad learnt the physical aspects of the mime art from by reading books, from the masters of the art or theough his brief interactions with everyday people. Even at 77, one look at this frail man, you know that his eyes talk about every step he has taken to make it happen for him all his life. While the exaggerated gestures or physical movements make for easy laughs, his expressions move you and take you through a range of emotions.
Hyderabadi theatre lovers will get to go on a mimical journey with him this Saturday. Sutradhar presents Irshad Panjatan’s Pantomime Demonstration and Lecture at Lamakaan, on July 7, at 7.30 pm.