Nagaland Post
Thursday, October 22, 2026 at 06:28 AM1 min readVerified Wire
Mountain Music Academy's 'Opai Asey' ABBA Musical Lights Up Tetso College
Archived syndication image from Nagaland Post Direct Publisher Wire
Mountain Music Academy (MMA) recently transformed Lorin Hall at Tetso College into a stage for timeless nostalgia, premiering 'Opai Asey,' an ABBA-themed musical that drew a capacity crowd of students, faculty, and local enthusiasts. Scripted by playwright and director Anungla Zoe Longkumer, the production reimagined the Swedish pop group's greatest hits through a uniquely Northeastern narrative, marking a bold cultural experiment in the region's academic theatre scene.
The initiative stems from Mountain Music Academy's broader mission to bridge global music heritage with local storytelling, a practice the collective has pursued across Nagaland's hill districts over the past five years. Tetso College, known for fostering avant-garde student platforms, has increasingly become a hub for interdisciplinary arts, making it the ideal venue for a production that marries ABBA's universal appeal with regional sensibilities. Such ventures reflect a growing trend where educational institutions in the Northeast serve as incubators for fusion arts, moving beyond traditional folk performances to embrace international pop culture reinterpreted through local lenses.
Attendees described the evening as 'a surprising fusion of disco fever and Naga pride,' with many noting how the musical's choreography and set design subtly integrated indigenous motifs without overshadowing the original ABBA arrangements. According to reports, Anungla Zoe Longkumer emphasized that the script was crafted to resonate with young audiences while honoring the source material's emotional depth, stating, 'We wanted to prove that ABBA's stories of love, loss, and resilience speak a universal language, one that can be spoken in any dialect.' Faculty coordinators praised the production's technical execution, highlighting the student-led orchestra and lighting design as standout elements that elevated the amateur staging to professional standards.
Following the overwhelming response, Mountain Music Academy has hinted at taking 'Opai Asey' on a regional tour, with potential stops at other colleges and cultural festivals across the Northeast later this year. Arts observers suggest the success could catalyze a wave of similar themed productions, positioning Nagaland's academic circuit as an unexpected yet vibrant frontier for experimental theatre in India. The organizers also tease a possible sequel or 'ABBA Unplugged' installment, contingent on audience feedback and sponsorship, signaling a sustainable model for cross-cultural artistic exchange in the region.