Reminiscing 40 years of ‘Mimics Parade’

The troupe elevated mimicry as a popular art form in Kerala and abroad

The image of a six-member team clad in jubba and performing mimicry in front of a packed audience at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall auditorium here on September 21, 1981 remains fresh in the memory of actor-director K.S. Prasad.

A thunderous applause erupted at the end of the show as they ignited a laugh riot among the audience and went on to make their ‘Mimics Parade’ troupe a household name in the State and abroad. “It was Fr. Abel, founder of Cochin Kalabhavan, who was instrumental in launching such a professional group of mimicry artistes,” said Mr. Prasad on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the popular troupe here on Tuesday.

Besides him, the initial members of the troupe included actor-director Lal, film-maker Siddique, artistes Kalabhavan Ansar, Kalabhavan Rahman, and Varkichan Petta. “Over the years, the troupe provided a space for numerous talents, who played a key role in popularising mimicry in society,” he said.