Immerse in Mirza Ghalib's life and works through this new performance in Mumbai

(Front, from left) Prasad Athalye and Sameer Samant interact during a rehearsal; Gayatri Sapre Dhavali and Shounak Kulkarni (in background). Pics courtesy/Sameer Samant

Mirza Ghalib once said, "Do not go by the lines on the palm of the hand, as luck is bestowed even on those who do not have a hand." February 16 marked the 157th death anniversary of the celebrated Urdu and Persian poet Mirza Ghalib. A tribute performance titled, ‘Ghalib Hamein Na Ched' will revisit his life and legacy through poetry, narration, and live ghazal renditions. "The night will focus on Ghalib's life through the shadows of his poetry, and will include moments when the poet found himself at a crossroads between his life and his writings," says narrator Sameer Samant.

While Ghalib is widely revered for his literary genius, few are aware of the personal struggles he endured. Caught between questions of identity and expression, he often found himself at an emotional and intellectual crossroads that gave birth to some of his most profound works during the Mughal era.

A sculpted bust of Mirza Ghalib at a previous tribute event

The evening will feature a team of performers, including Prasad Athalye as narrator, along with singers Shounak Kulkarni and Anjali Marathe, supported by accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists. Through narration, dramatised sequences, and music, the programme will explore the poet's inner world.

The performance will also imagine how Ghalib may have felt during pivotal moments of his life. One such episode highlights his humiliation when he was asked to leave the court of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, as members of the court failed to understand the meaning of his ghazal.

Another segment will revisit the aftermath of the Uprising of 1857, when Delhi was devastated and looted, leaving the poet with little more than his verses and his solitude. These episodes will come together in a poetic presentation, with performers stepping into brief character roles and delivering dialogues.To conclude the evening, ghazals like Hazaron Khwahishen Aisi, Koi Umeed Bar Nahi Aati, and Rahiye Ab Aisi Jagah Chal Kar Jahaan Koi Na Ho, among others will be sung to honour a few moments of his life.

ON February 18; 7.30 pm
AT Ravindra Natya Mandir, ground floor, PL Deshpande Auditorium, Prabhadevi
CALL 9867332549
ENTRY Rs 400