Shazia Shah| Kashmir Pen
New Delhi , Feb 6: Kashmir’s indigenous folk theatre form Akanundun made a powerful impression at the world’s biggest international theatre festival, drawing appreciation from audiences across regions and countries for its authenticity and cultural depth.
Director Arsh Mushtaq expressed gratitude and humility, saying the team carried Kashmir’s own language, traditions, and philosophy to the global मंच, without borrowing spectacle from elsewhere. He said Akanundun is rooted in folk memory, song, silence, and the Reshi spirit that values humility over ambition.
Calling the moment a quiet affirmation of cultural confidence, Mushtaq said the global resonance of Kashmiri folk theatre proves that authenticity travels farther than imitation.
He credited the achievement to the collective effort of young performers, elders, musicians, and the entire team, noting that Kashmiri folk theatre does not need translation to be understood — only honesty.
Terming the international recognition not an arrival but a beginning, the team said they will move forward with renewed humility, carrying their roots with pride | Kashmir Pen
