Amal Allana in conversation with Ritu Menon at The Hindu Lit for Life 2025. , Photo courtesy: R. ragu
Theater director Amal Allana, who recently released an interesting biography of her father Ibrahim Alkazi: Holding time hostage Provides an insightful account of Alkazi’s revolutionary contribution to art and culture in the creative landscape emerging in the later decades of pre-independence India.
The Hindu Lit For Life 2025 Day 2 Live
She said the title of her book was appropriate because she had found words written in notes by her father, which read, ‘I wish I could live longer to hold time captive.’
Amal Allana’s conversation with Ritu Menon at The Hindu Lit for Life session on the second day was preceded by a six-minute documentary on Alkazi charting her journey of discovery for an eclectic approach to art in the Indian sub-continent.
Setting the story in 1940s Bombay when Alkazi arrived as the son of an expatriate businessman from Saudi Arabia, Amal narrates how his innovative ideas from the young age of 22 led him to come up with bold new experimental projects. Together they changed theater movements throughout India and beyond. National School of Drama was established in Delhi in the 1960s. This was a time when creative history was less researched and Alkazi came to the stage with arrogance, determination and talent.
As the daughter, Amal offered a personal perspective into the abstract landscape of Alkazi’s passion as she step-by-step unraveled the layers of his cultural, artistic and nationalist identity. “His academic skills developed as a response to social and political life. He introduced the language in theater and nationalized it,” she said.
Along with Sultan Padamsee (elder brother of filmmaker Alick Padamsee) and other free-thinking creative individuals, he broke boundaries and embraced the radical and uncertain theater life. They were all progressive and strengthening each other. Amal told how Alkazi went abroad to study modern theater and took Nissim Ezekiel with him. He had a flair for bringing people together and his idea of complete theater included all forms of art related to each other.
“So with music, lights, costumes, literature, discussions and brochures he created theatrical experiences while translating, producing and directing Western cult plays,” Amal said and added that Alkazi particularly integrated liberalism with the fine arts. He was influenced by Tagore’s concept of Santiniketan.
Alkazi, he said, was not only interested in training a group of thoughtful actors, but he also trained the audience to appreciate modernism in theatre.
The Hindu Lit for Life program is presented by KIA India in collaboration with Christ University. Associate Partners: LIC, RR Donnelly, Blue Star, Brigade Group, NITTE Deemed-to-be University, Prosure, Singer, Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Limited, Uttarakhand Tourism, Vajiram and Ravi, Indian Bank, Akshaykalp and ICFAI Group. Realty Partners: Casagrande. Bookstore Partner: Crossword. Food Partner: Wow Momo, Beverage Partner: Beachville, Radio Partner: BIG FM, TV Partner: Puthiya Thalaimurai Gift Partner: Anand Prakash. Supported by: US Consulate, Chennai, Water Partners: Prestige
published – January 19, 2025 01:12 PM IST
