Eros cinema will host a dramatised reading of Urdu plays to bring the focus back on the beauty of Indian literature
The setting is academic. Five people sit on a stage with sheets of papers in front of them, impassive faces looking out to the audience. They start talking, and the mood shifts. They aren't reading ordinary academic notes or giving a lecture. Instead, using their voices, they are bringing alive the stories of some of Urdu's finest writers — Munshi Premchand, Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto.
An earlier performance. Pics/Atul Kamble
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This Wednesday, stories of these literary icons will be part of a dramatised reading, Four Women, a labyrinth of emotions, organised by Katha Kathan. The venue: iconic single-screen Eros cinema in Churchgate.
Think of it as theatre for readers. "To perform, we have to read with emotion. We should be able to make you laugh and cry, using just our voices. It is not acting," says Jameel Gulrays, 68, former advertising executive, Urdu lover and founder of Katha Kathan.
The storytellers
Katha Kathan is a group that aims to use dramatised readings and dialogue to revive and sustain interest in Indian language literature. Four Women…will be their fourth presentation and 31st show.
The group at a practice session led by founder Jameel Gulrays in Khar
"While discussing ideas about which stories to narrate, we realised that some of our favourites were women-centric, so it worked as a timely theme. The four stories showcase different aspects of women's lives," adds Gulrays. In Premchand's Kafan, the woman is a silent provider; a jealous lover in Manto's Thanda Gosht; someone with unfulfilled needs in Chughtai's Lihaf, and a temperamental wife in Manto's Tasveer.
The stories will be read by six members of Katha Kathan; Gulrays will be the narrator and the others will play different characters. Media professional Sumanto Bhattacharya, 34, will play a character in Lihaaf, a short story that explores a lesbian engagement. Bhattacharya, a fan of Manto, doesn't understand Urdu, and has the stories translated into Devnagiri script. "It takes me longer than others to practice. I had to first understand the meaning and the emotion behind every word to get it right." Another problem he faced was emoting, because he admits he isn't an expressive personality. Gulrays, who was part of a theatre group when younger, was his guide throughout.
Rajesh Jha, 46, a freelance voice over artist, will be part of Kafan and Thanda Gosht. "Hindi literature has been my passion since childhood. I have a diploma in Urdu so I can read and write it. My knowledge increased after joining this group," he says, adding that he has done dramatised readings before and they work better than plays. "When you watch plays, there are a lot of theatrics that, at times, take away from the beauty of the literature. A dramatised reading is simpler, and because you are focusing on the story, there is no drama to distract."
The other readers include Priyanka Sharma, Madhavi Ganpule and Mridual Prabhaa. The team has been practicing for a month and a half, with familiarisation sessions and, working on the tone, enunciation and emotion.
Stage for readings
Katha Kathan launched in March this year. "Indian languages stand the risk of being reduced to mere dialects. We want to promote reading through this live narration of stories," says Gulrays. Their earlier presentations featured stories in Marathi, Bengali and Urdu. The team has no sponsors and spends from their pocket.
Should people who do not understand Urdu attend the reading? Bhattacharya agrees, adding, "Urdu is a beautiful language. These writings were way ahead of their times, and didn't shy from creating strong female characters. If they were writing the same things now, may be they would've got into more trouble!"
On August 31, 6.30 pm
At Eros Preview Theatre, opposite Churchgate Station.
Call 9870090807
Entry Free
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