Saadat Hasan Manto, who would’ve turned 100 this May, is synonymous with modern Urdu literature. “No one else has written about Mumbai or the Partition the way Manto has,” says Salim Arif. A 1984 graduate from the National School of Drama, Delhi, Arif is paying homage to the legend through his play Manto Mantra, which premieres this Tuesday. Although Arif has covered a wide variety of shows with the theatre group, Essay Communications, the last time he brought one of Manto’s stories to the stage was back in his college days. “He’s been so prominent in Urdu literature, that a tribute to him was an obvious thing for our group,” he explains.

Actors rehearse for Manto Mantra in Juhu on Wednesday. Pic/ Rane Ashish