Irshad Panjatan, born on 7th September 1931, in Hyderabad, is not just an Indian actor but a legendary mime artist who revolutionized the performing arts scene in India. Known for introducing mime to the Indian audience during the 1960s, Panjatan later moved to Berlin, where he left an indelible mark on the international stage. With performances that spanned from Bollywood to Hollywood, Panjatan’s journey from an aspiring actor to a celebrated mime artist is an inspirational tale of passion, innovation, and dedication.
Early Life and Family Roots of Irshad Panjatan
Irshad Panjatan was born into a family that prized intellectual pursuits. His elder brother, Dr. Abid Hussain, was a distinguished economist and diplomat, a symbol of the family’s intellectual gravitas. Growing up in a large family of seven siblings in Hyderabad, Panjatan initially pursued an unconventional path by studying aviation engineering. However, his heart lay elsewhere. By 1950, he moved to Delhi, leaving his stable career to pursue his true passion—acting and theatre.
From Stage Actor to Mime Artist: A Journey of Discovery
After moving to Delhi, Irshad Panjatan trained in Kathakali under maestros like Raghavan Nair and Narendra Sharma. He started his acting career with Hindustani Theatre, a prominent theatre group founded by Begum Qudsia Zaidi.
His performance in the 1957 play Charudatta, where he enacted a theft scene without dialogue, sparked a turning point. A review in Marg magazine described his performance as “very good pantomime,” which intrigued Panjatan. A chance encounter with a local mime artist in Delhi further propelled him to explore this new art form.
By 1962, Irshad Panjatan performed his first mime play in Delhi, introducing mime to the Indian cultural landscape. He embraced the Marcel Marceau style of mime but quickly developed his own unique approach, which resonated with Indian and international audiences alike. During this period, he also dabbled in Bollywood, acting in films like K.A. Abbas’s Saat Hindustani (1969), where he portrayed a Portuguese spy.
Global Acclaim and Settling in Berlin
In 1971, Irshad Panjatan embarked on a tour that took him across West Asia and Europe, eventually leading him to Germany. His performances were widely appreciated, and he decided to settle in Berlin, where he would later establish himself as a mime artist of international repute.
Irshad Panjatan also acted in several German and Hollywood films, including Manitou’s Shoe (2001), God is No Soprano (2003), Free Rainer (2007), and Iron Sky (2012). These films showcased his versatility as an actor and artist, allowing him to transition between mime and cinematic performances seamlessly.
Panjatan’s influence transcended cultures and languages, proving that mime, as an art form, speaks to the universal human experience. His solo mime acts, which he toured across continents, were lauded for their emotive depth and innovative expression.
Lasting Legacy in Berlin
In 1975, Irshad Panjatan married Ingrid Sattler and established a mime school in Berlin, nurturing future generations of performers. His mime performances continued to captivate audiences across Europe. One of his most celebrated acts was his solo performance, Walk of Life, which he last performed in 2008 at Pune’s Theatre Beyond Words festival.
Even after stepping back from regular performances, Panjatan remained connected to his roots. In 2012, he visited his hometown of Hyderabad, where he gave a lecture-demonstration on mime at Lamakaan, a cultural space that thrives on intellectual and artistic dialogue.
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