What happens when gifted actors present a great storyteller's vignettes on stage? Sheer magic! The Guide watched Naseer, Ratna and Heeba in Ismat Apa Ke Naam during their outing in the city last year. it's your chance now to Book your seat, as they're back in performance tonight
What happens when gifted actors present a great storyteller's vignettes on stage? Sheer magic! The Guide watched Naseer, Ratna and Heeba in Ismat Apa Ke Naam during their outing in the city last year. it's your chance now to Book your seat, as they're back in performance tonight
If celebrated Urdu writer Ismat Chugtai were to be alive today, she would have surely approved of the Motley Group's rendition of her short stories on stage. Ismat Apa Ke Naam makes a reappearance in the city this weekend with actors Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Heeba Shah among others playing pivotal roles.
The play began with Shah introducing Ismat Khannum Chughtai (1915-1991), the controversial writer from Pakistan known for her bold feminist writing. He dwelt briefly on what inspired him to put together Ismat Apa Ke Naam. And he described, in a most delightful manner, the gist of Chui Muee, Mughal Bachcha and Gharwali.
For the next two hours, the Shahs took turns to lead us into the world of the 1940s the period when the scathing stories were written. They achieved this, not through grand props or rich costumes, but through their sheer brilliance as artistes. In fact, the austere sets made sure the focus stayed on the performers and the stories.
In Chui Muee, Heeba went from uncertain 17-year-old to a cantankerous 70-year-old in the blink of an eye. She was especially good as the grovelling waif, who forces her way into a reserved compartment of a train, delivers a baby, mops up the mess and jumps off the train with her precious bundle, leaving her pampered and privileged co-passengers marvelling at her spontaneity and strength.
In Mughal Bachcha, Ratna was magical as coy Gori Bi, a bride-in-waiting, as well as arrogant Kale Miyan who is a lesson in debauchery.
Naseer as Lajo in Gharwali is brilliant. His blustering speech as the prudish and hypocritical Mirza Baig stood in stark contrast to his suggestive manner as Lajo, the voluptuous prostitute who lays siege to Mirza's heart and hearth.We suggest you read Ismat, not in translation, but in the language it was lived and written in.
On: December 2, 8 pm
At: Chowdiah Memorial Hall, malleswaram
Call: 4206 4969
For: Rs 300, 600, 1000, 2000
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