Danish Hussain as Habib Tanvir Photo Credit: Courtesy: Hoshruba Repertory
its 2023 production I am a poet of every momentThe film, based on the life and works of poet-lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi, received an overwhelming response. While theater director and actor Danish Hussain kept staging it in different cities, he was still thinking of a subject for his next project. That’s when stage personality MK Raina approached him with the idea of doing a play on the great theater personality Habib Tanvir. The result was this Habibnama85 minute presentation.
“Raina was helping organize the ‘Dekh Rahein Nayan’ festival, which was recently organized by the Kolkata Center for Creativity to celebrate Habibji’s birth centenary,” says Danish, who runs the Hoshruba Repertory. Habibnama It was premiered there. Since I was also staging my plays at Prithvi Theater in Mumbai, I held two shows on 31st August, a day before his 101st birth anniversary.
Danish had worked with Habib for five years as part of his famous play Agra market“As an actor, I have closely observed his mannerisms and speaking style. This came in handy while he was playing. HabibnamaWhere I wore clothes like them and also smoked pipes. I also invited actor Purushottam Bhatt, who worked in Habib’s Naya Theater for 50 years, to be a part of my new project. He guided me a lot.”
From Habibnama
Photo Credit: Courtesy: Hoshruba Repertory
Initially, the idea was to write the script as if Habib was reading his autobiography. But later Danish designed it as if he was giving an interview to an unseen journalist. “I also introduced two characters, played by Purushottam Bhatt and Mohan Sagar, who basically came looking for a role with songs and acting performances. Through them, we showed some songs and scenes from Habib’s plays,” says Danish.
Habib has made pioneering contributions to Urdu and Hindi theater and Danish intended to talk about his style, his views on art and culture, his political thinking and ideology. Known for plays like Agra market, Charandas thief, chess pieces, Ponga Pandit And Village name in-laws houseAnd peacock name son in lawHe was recognized for his work with Chhattisgarhi tribals. He formed Naya Theater in 1959 and also popularized the folk art form Nacha, which has a unique method of presentation, make-up, costume, jewellery, music and dance. He was also known for creating social awareness through his works.
Habib Ahmed Khan was born on September 1, 1923 in Raipur (formerly in Madhya Pradesh, and now the capital of Chhattisgarh), he moved to Mumbai after his schooling and college in Nagpur and Aligarh, and started writing poems and film songs. Did. He joined the Progressive Writers Association and became active in the Indian People’s Theater Association (IPTA).
Habib’s love for the stage actually began after watching Vallathol, who founded Kerala Kalamandalam and revived Kathakali. He called him his first guru. Habib’s first successful play Agra market was inspired by 18th Nazir Akbarabadi, Urdu poet of the century. He involved the people of Delhi and folk artists and staged a play in a market. Thus a new method of live performance was created. He traveled to different parts of Europe, learning about different theater styles.
Purushottam Bhatt and Mohan Sagar brought alive the scenes from Habib Tanvir’s plays. , Photo Credit: Courtesy: Hoshruba Repertory
Habib directed after returning to India clay cartbased on sanskrit drama MrichchakatikaHe used folk artists from Chhattisgarh and soon became associated with the theater and music styles of that region. he is very successful charandas thief Vijayadaan was based on the Rajasthani folk tale of Detha. It was adapted for the screen by Shyam Benegal, starring Lalu Ram and Smita Patil in the lead roles. Habib’s drama Ponga PanditAlthough it has been staged since the 1960s, it arose in controversy in the 1990s, as its theme of religious hypocrisy was viewed from a different perspective by fundamentalists.
In HabibnamaDanish has focused on key aspects of the theater legend’s life. “Apart from his plays, I also talked about his growing up years, his exposure to cinema and theatre. I didn’t want my production to be too realistic. I also knew that avid theater followers knew his work. But I also wanted to reach out to people outside the theater community,” says Danish.
published – September 27, 2024 05:05 PM IST
