Shalini Mahapatra is an avid wordsmith who believes that writing is the most influential and resourceful medium to disseminate information. She completed her education in English Journalism from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication. She holds a Post Graduate Degree in English Literature from Ravenshaw University; a Masters Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University; a Degree in Law from Utkal University. At present she is a Research Scholar pursuing PhD. in Humanities.
She authored "Shri Jagannath Mahaprasad Legends Miracles Myths", a book on Jagannath Consciousness. The book has been selected by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India for the Raja Ram Mohun Roy Library Foundation.
She is a freelance PR and Mar-com consultant, a Writer and Media Academician.
As I watched a brilliant mime performance, I was intermittently pulled towards recollecting Samuel Becketts masterpiece, "Waiting for Godot". The two characters, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), represented a facet of human desire throughout the play, they kept waiting for the arrival of someone named Godot, while Godot remained nowhere but everywhere. Arusam Madhusudan was the only existing human on stage accompanied by a black backdrop, minimal sound effects and lights. He was just like the non existing 'Godot who held the entire audience spellbound.
The ten minute performance instilled in me a deep soothing impact. I was seeing an art for the first time and an artiste who was unknown to me, but both had the power to create an anonymously deep connection. The desire to know more about the mute art made headway. The performance pushed me to elaborate every moment of the act by writing a blog on Arusam Madhusudan's gleaming show. I sincerely thank the most humble and gifted Arusam Madhusudan for introducing me to this silent monochromatic brilliance called Mime. It is for his mime performance that I have written this manuscript today. Mime is an exceptional art form.
My sincere thanks goes to Shri Mamidi Harikrishna, Director, Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana for giving me the opportunity to write on the unique art of mime.
I am grateful to my father Colonel Sarat Kumar Mahapatra and mother Sanjukta Mahapatra for allowing me the comfort of writing. My brother, Sidharth for always being my motivation.
Nalini, my husband needs a special mention for creating reasons for me to take up writing. My daughters Sanayika and Sharanya continue to give me utmost joy with their unreserved support and love.
An introduction to mime is like giving words to a Divine message. The connotations are many but the denotation is only one, which can be captioned as 'pure bliss'.
The art of tranquil gestures, the rhythm of silence, the sway of movement; the celebration of life frozen in the hue of black and white; melting through a silent glance and smile - Mime is like a dream.
The murmuring spring, gushing through the delicate twirl of the eyes. Stretched hands, trembling in the air for a flight. Fingers gripping the Earth. Delicately crafted body bends and loops flickering like shining flames. The stance and the glance, in harmony with the poetic curves of the body. A splash, a flight, a caress, a tear, a rage, some movements and harmony. A living fantasy, a breathing sculpture - The timeless art of Mime.
It is a contentment that the Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana in fostering the exceptional art of mime and promoting the artistes'. Nurturing the magnificent and mesmerizing silent art of loftiness with cautious strides is a task that will take the art of mime to new heights.
Shalini Mahapatra through her writing has concisely and lucidly presented the nuances of mime in this book titled "The Mimescape of Telangana A mime Montage". Mime art is certainly the treasured pride of Telangna that we all should be proud of.
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