Danish Husain as Sahir Ludhianvi with co-actors in ‘Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon’
| Picture Credit score: Manasi/Particular Association
The title of The Hoshruba Repertory and Artwork for Causes’ Hindustani theatre manufacturing, Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon, borrows the opening phrase from the favored music from Kabhi Kabhie. The play is a deep dive into the lifetime of Urdu poet and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. After sellout reveals in Mumbai and New Delhi, Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon will probably be staged at Shilpakala Vedika, Hyderabad, on February 24. The proceeds from the tickets (obtainable on bookmyshow.com) will go in direction of elevating funds for Artwork for Causes, an NGO that works in schooling and well being care.
The semi-autobiographical theatre presentation is an try and encapsulate the life and work of Sahir Ludhianvi in a two-hour play, interspersing it with a few of his unforgettable poems and songs. Written by Mir Ali Husain and Himanshu Bajpai, the play directed by Danish Husain will present the lyricist (enacted by Danish Husain) giving a proper interview in his research, someday within the Seventies. On the different finish of the theatre manufacturing is a gaggle of younger musicians who’re fanboys of Ludhianvi, jamming and recreating his iconic songs.
The play took form when Hyderabad-based artist and documentary filmmaker Amita Talwar reached out to theatre actor and director Danish Husain in summer season 2023. Amita had needed to direct documentaries on six well-known lyricists. Her documentary on Kaifi Azmi was aired on Doordarshan many years in the past. “Again then, it was a process sending the recordsdata from Hyderabad to Delhi,” she remembers. Her plans to make the opposite 5 documentaries, together with one on Ludhianvi, didn’t take form again then.
“Two years in the past, to mark Ludhianvi’s delivery centenary, I assumed why not discover a theatre presentation,” says Amita. By producer Elahe Hiptoola, Amita obtained in contact with New York-based author and script advisor Mir Ali Husain who had researched extensively on Ludhianvi. “A few months later, he visited Hyderabad and made a presentation at Lamakaan, following which I contacted Danish Husain.” Amita and Danish had earlier collaborated for Akhtari: Dastan Bai Se Begum Tak, a tribute to Begum Akhtar in collaboration with Vidya Shah.
A few of Sahir Ludhianvi’s in style Hindi movie songs
‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein’ from Kabhi Kabhie
‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar’ from from Hum Dono
‘Udein Jab Jab Zulfen Teri’ from Naya Daur
‘Ae Mere Zohra Jabeen’from Waqt
‘Hum Aapki Ankhon Mein’ from Pyaasa
‘Saathi Haath Badhana’ from Naya Daur
Danish remembers how that presentation had additionally included music and Amita was eager on an analogous format for the play on Ludhianvi. Within the meantime, Danish had additionally been looking out for a play to commemorate the eleventh 12 months of his theatre group, The Hoshruba Repertory. Having labored with Mir Ali Husain earlier, he was wanting to collaborate once more. “After I learn Husain’s script, it was a monologue of Sahir talking,” says Danish, who additionally needed to incorporate views on how others checked out Ludhianvi, within the play. He roped within the dastangoi exponent Himanshu Bajpai, who had a script in place.
Danish Husain with co-actors and the music ensemble in ‘Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon’
| Picture Credit score:
Manasi/Particular Association
“I invited each the gents since I needed to mix each their scripts and requested them to grant me carte blanche.” Danish then took parts from each the scripts, stuffed in a couple of gaps the place he thought there was a necessity for extra materials, rewrote a couple of parts and Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon was born.
The manufacturing traces Ludhianvi’s life from his delivery by his struggling years and entry into Hindi cinema and in addition appears at his poetry past the romantic numbers. He was additionally recognized for his poetry on the marginalised. “This facet makes him inspirational and admirable,” says Danish.
Having pored over audio recordings of Ludhianvi and some obtainable “grainy” movies, Danish observes how the legendary poet selected his phrases and spoke them rigorously in order that his articulation reached the listeners. Steering additionally got here from lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, pertaining to Ludhianvi’s mannerisms and physique language. Danish reinterpreted all this on stage, making certain to not mimic him.
Danish Husain as Sahir Ludhianvi in ‘Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon’
| Picture Credit score:
Manasi/Particular Association
On stage, as Danish slips into the sneakers of Ludhianvi, he’s accompanied by actors Vrinda Vaid, Siddharth N Padiyar and musicians/singers — Shantanyu Herlekar (a disciple of Shubha Mudgal) on the harmonium, vocalist Srijonee Bhattacharjee and guitarist Donald Krist and percussionist Siddarth Nityanand Padiyar. Through the displays in Mumbai and Delhi, the viewers sang alongside.
Danish sums up, “Sahir’s life was enigmatic and sophisticated. There was ample materials for every section of his life — struggling days, stardom, falling out together with his friends — the narrative formed up naturally. Sahir won’t be a stranger to those that watch the play. They may develop an admiration for him and in addition be curious to discover additional materials.”
(Most important Pal Do Pal Ka Shair Hoon, the Hindustani play, will probably be staged at Shilpakala Vedika, Hyderabad, on February 24, 7pm. Tickets on bookmyshow.com)
