FANTASY LITERATURE SAWIHAWNNA: MIZO FANTASY FICTION DINHMUN LEH HMATHLIR

• Lalremruati Ngente

  Research Scholar, Mizoram University

  Author

This article explores the concept, historical background, current status, and future prospects of Mizo fantasy fiction. Although fantasy literature and films have achieved massive global popularity and academic recognition, the genre remains relatively small and underexplored within Mizo literature. The paper examines the etymology and various definitions of fantasy, highlighting its deep connections with human psychology—as theorized by Freud, Jung, and Lacan—as well as its intersections with scientific concepts like parallel universes and time dilation. It traces the roots of fantasy from global mythology and folktales to its evolution in modern books and cinema. In the Mizo context, the development of fantasy elements began in 1945 with C. Thuamluaia's work and has slowly grown to include various novels, short stories, and the first Mizo fantasy movie, Dear Kim, in 2023. Even though some Mizo fantasy works, such as C. Lalnunchanga’s Kawlkil Piah Lamtluang, have achieved high literary acclaim, the genre faces several significant challenges. These challenges include the high level of creativity and technical skill required to build new worlds, financial and technical limitations in the local film industry, and the prevailing misconception that fantasy is solely children's literature. Nevertheless, with a growing interest among the younger generation, the future of Mizo fantasy fiction is promising. Ultimately, the genre has the potential to serve as a universal medium to showcase Mizo culture, folktales, and literature to the global stage.

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