Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival - Day 2 - Awsome!!

Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival started here at Hyderabad this Monday Oct 26, 2009. It has an interesting line up of Hindi, English, Marathi, Telugu and even German performances. Just attended the second play of the festival today and was completely bowled over. Qadir Ali Baig, I hear, was a quiet a popular writer. His son, Mohammad Ali Baig runs the Qadir Ali Baig foundation. This foundation organizes the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival annually since 2007. Today was Day 2.

Day 2 of the festival was featuring the second play by Naseeruddin Shah - Ismat Aapa ke Naam Part 2. I had missed this play once in Bangalore, during Dusshera time this year. So, when I realised that I was getting a second chance and that mom would also love to watch it, I bought the tickets. The play was very nice. The style presentation, as Manoj Pahwa reminded us in the introduction, was more of a narration style. The character would narrate as well as enact the story. This was quiet an interesting narration style. The plots were interesting too.

The play "Ismat Aapa ke Naam" as the name suggests was a colourful ensemble of stories written by Ismat Chugtai - India's first liberal women writers. Naseer and team had chosen 3 stories - Amar Bel, Nannhi ki Naani and Do Haath. Of the the three stories - I love "Do Haath" the best. All in all good second day at the theatre festival.

Though I will miss the one tomorrow, but always wishing that we have many more events like these. Looking forward to the second leg of the festival to be organised at Ravindra Bharti from Nov 6th.h

Soul Soothing - Jai Ho

Rehman Bhai kee Jai Ho....is the after thought that is part of the after effect of most soul soothing and exhilarating weekend experience....the AR Rehman Jai Ho concert here at Hyderabad on 24th Oct 2009. It was always a secret dream to attend an AR Rehman concert.

Especially after watching the magnificient AR Rehman concert held in Delhi on TV, always always secretly prayed that I should also be presented with an oppourtunity to attend the concert live and watch 2 of my most favourite musicians - AR Rehman and Sivamani.

The evening started off with a bang. I don't want to recap the whole event. All I want to say is that it was an out of this world experience.....with numbers like Dil Se, Khawaja Mere Khawaja and Ring Ring Ringaa. Once the concert started, I didn't look left or right, I was stuck staring at the stage. Rehmaan sahab gave us a power packed night with fast songs, love songs, classical, sufi, rap. The conclusion was the best. My most favourite part was the sitar jugalbandi. Full respect for all performers, and all the love for Rehmaan and Sivamani. Loved our part of audience section.....people sitting in front of us and in a few rows behind were all very sporting.......we all shouted a lot of songs during the concert and, clapped and waved our hands. It was good they asked me to keep the camera in the car, as I wouldn't have used it. I was busy shouting the songs and dancing on my seat. The conclusion was befitting a Rehman concert.

He ended with - Jai Ho and Vande Mataram. We all stood up for Jai Ho and we were all shouting and jumping for Jai Ho and of course we all did a full throated shout on Vande Mataram.

Rehman is simply the best and I feel lucky to have finally attended his concert live.

I sound like a love struck puppy...don't I. Don't care, I was just part of most one of most previleged group of people who watched AR Rehman live.

My Tryst with Theatre

I come from a fine arts loving family and a family where everyone is encouraged to learn at least one of the forms - dance, music, theatre. My grandparents used to play the sitar. My uncles have learnt instruments and my aunt Kathak. I also tried to keep the tradition going.

1. I trained in Kathak for 3 years.
2. I tried to learn the keyoboard, but wasn't too successful.

Then I found performance.

I started with attending the concert by Mr. Anup Jalota and another one by Mr. Jagjit Singh. Then, I went to US to finish my study and then I came back and discovered theatre.

I attended my first play 2 weekends ago, 2nd October. I never thought I would watch Mr. Naseeruddin Shah perform as my first play to attend. It was a great experience. The play was titled "Katha Collage".

Katha Collage - as it was a collection of 3 plays - Bade Bhai Sahab, Shatranj Ke Khiladi and Samantran. The first two were written by Munshi Premchand.

I've probably just read one or two stories written by Munshi Premchand, as part of course work. But, I would definitely like to read Bade Bhai Sahab.

Naseer's son Imad had played the protagonist in this play. He was very good and a very very close resemblence with Naseer, even in the voice.

All in all it was a very enjoyable experience and very theraputic for curing the stress built up for weeks.

Me and mom agreed, that plays and theatre definiltely improves our quality of life. Fine arts isn't a very expensive hobby if compared with the shopping and movies people do every weekend.