Pena maker / artiste shares thought
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 22 2025: Pena maker-cum-artiste Mutum Rajen Meetei has stated that mastering the art of playing the pena is fundamental for its makers, underscoring the crucial link between craftsmanship and musical expertise.

Rajen (53), a resident of Heibongpokpi in Imphal East, is the son of Late M Ningthemjao and Sakhi Leima, and making and playing the indigenous musical instrument is his profession.

He also teaches aspiring pena artistes every Sunday.

In an interview with The Sangai Express, Rajen said that cow hides and horse tail hairs are also essential components used to complete a pena.

The pena might never have resonated with its melodious tune if not for the cow and pony, whose hides and tail hairs play a crucial role in its making, he said.

Saying that a pena now costs around Rs 7,500, Rajen added that he has sold approximately 500 pena pieces so far.

He further stated that he purchases horse tail hairs from both Manipur and other States at Rs 15,000 per Kg.

The pena is intricately linked with the history of Manipur, Rajen said.

Just like with other musical instruments, aspiring pena makers must know how to play the musical instrument first, he emphasized.

Saying that he first crafted two pena pieces in 1999 at his father's workplace, he said that he gave one of the penas to a friend from his locality and subsequently began learning to play the musical instrument from gurus.

Rajen said that he was motivated to craft more penas after a renowned pena teacher Laishram Leibakmacha praised his craftsmanship.

He further said that his first live performance as a pena artiste was in 2002 at the National School of Drama in New Delhi, after one of his teachers asked him to fill in .

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