Shumang Leela has 12 qualities: Dr M Nara
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 29 2012: Remembering former President of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) A K Hangal, who breathed his last at the ripe age of 95 years on 26th August 2012 in Mumbai, Manipur State Shumang Leela Council and IPTA, organized a condolence meeting at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Sanglen here today morning.

Speaking o the occasion, Advisor of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, Dr Moirangthem Nara said that, Hangal was a true artiste and a freedom fighter.

Recollecting Hangal's admiration of Shumang Leela art form, Dr Nara said that a play should normally have three essential qualities; but our Shumang Leela has 12 qualities.

While A K Hangal was the President of IPTA, he not only work for promotion of Shumang Leela, but also hailed it as the highest art form.

Terming the 95-year-old actor as a benevolent person, Nara said that the former President of IPTA was impressed with Manipur's Thang-Ta and its black costumes.

During his tenure, he successfully arranged a three-month long tour for Manipuri Shumang Leela team in Maharashtra.

Apart from it during the communal riot, which was happened in 1993, Hangal also participated in a mass peace rally and it was a contribution to Manipur and its people.

Praising Hangal, who worked as a trailer in his early phase of life in New Delhi, Dr Nara said that he (Hangal) was a freedom fighter and participated in many independence movements.

He declined job offered from the then British government and ran away to New Delhi.

Later, he acted in an English film along with Shabana Azmi.

President of Manipur State Shumang Leela Council Phurailatpam Gunachandra Sharma presided over the condolence meeting which was also attended by Naba Warepam and Rabi Sharma as Guest of Honours.

Avtar Kishan Hangal, was born in Sialkot, Punjab on 1 February 1917.The multifaceted Hangal started his career as a trailer at his early part of life; he also participated in the freedom movement during 1929-1947 and later became an actor.

In 1936, he joined Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a theater group in Peshawar and continued to act in many plays in pre Partition Pakistan till 1946 .

After partition, he moved to Bombay from Karachi and was involved with IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi.

Hangal was admitted to Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai on 16 August, 2012, and at the age of 95 he passed away because of chest and breathing problems on 26 August 2012 .

In recognition of his contributions in the field of cinema, theater and TV, the government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 2006 .

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