Watch short stories by Rajinder Singh Bedi, Mohan Rakesh and Bhisham Sahni come alive through solo acts and dramatic readings
Vicky Ahuja
Actor Madhurjeet Sarghi steps in front of the audience at the co-working and yoga studio, Yoga 101, and reads Rajinder Singh Bedi's short story, Babbal. Without any set, costume or glaring lights, she takes the guests into the world of a man caught between lust and love, and how a small boy, Babbal, becomes a catalyst in his journey. Her narration is part of Ek Baar Ki Baat Hai, an evening of storytelling and Hindustani literature, presented by Jashn-E-Qalam.
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Madhurjeet Sarghi
"The idea is to share a treasure trove of Hindustani literature, and make it accessible to a generation that converses in Hindi but finds it difficult to read the Devanagari script. It is also to encourage people to meet, listen, engage with their senses and participate in the community viewing of theatre. Today, most people share stories on social media. While there's nothing wrong with it, the human contact is missing," reasons KC Shankar, co-founder of the storytelling community comprising a dozen artistes. In three years, the team has introduced audiences to over 250 short stories by Indian literary greats through dramatic readings and solo performances.
Ajit Mehla
This event, too, will feature two solo performances. Stage and TV actor Vicky Ahuja will perform Parmatma Ka Kutta penned by Mohan Rakesh, a Hindi writer who influenced India's multilingual literary culture after Independence.
"It throws light on how spine-breaking the corrupt bureaucratic system is for the common man. It's brutally honest."
Actor Ajit Mehla will perform Bhisham Sahni's Leela Nandlal Ki. Shankar adds, "Even this story deals with bureaucracy, but it's light-hearted and satirical. It's about a Delhi man losing his scooter in the '90s, and the roller-coaster ride he endures to get it back."
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