For the love of Ghalib

Usually the director zeroes in on the subject and then chooses his cast. But in this case,Mujeeb worked in the reverse order. He was very clear that he wanted a contemporary poet and lyricist to portray Ghalib and chose veteran lyricist Ibrahim Ashq for the role. Ashq has written the lyrics of blockbusters like Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai,Koi… Mil Gaya,Krrish and Welcome.

Mujeeb says,“Ghalib has been the subject of films,serials and plays and has been portrayed by the likes of veteran actors like Bharat Bhushan,Naseeruddin Shah and Tom Alter. I was very clear that I didn’t want an actor. I thought of Ibrahim Ashq,firstly because he’s a poet himself so he would be able to understand Ghalib’s works better and interpret them in a different way. Secondly,he’s of the same height as the renowned poet and also has a soft personality like him.”

Mujeeb met Ibrahim,who gave a go-ahead immediately. Then he approached well-known Urdu writer Haji Mushtaq Ahmed for the play’s script. “I had read that Ghalib’s haveli in Chandni Chowk,Delhi was in a dilapidated state. So I thought this would make for an interesting story. I gave the initial brief to Ahmed and then he wrote the script.”

The 90-minute musical starts off by personifying Ghalib’s mansion as a character who tells the audience that rather than being preserved as a national monument it is now being used for commercial purposes. The venue that once provided the perfect ambience for several mushairas (poetry sessions) is now leased out for weddings.

Later,Urdu language is personified as a woman who shares her story. She describes herself as the daughter of India who was once revered and presented beautifully by various poets. But the current generation is disrespecting and misusing her. As the play progresses it throws light on the lesser-known facts of Ghalib’s life. For instance,during the 1857 rebellion,the British had attacked Ghalib and prohibited from writing poems. When asked about his affection for Hindus, he had retorted,“I’m every man’s poet.”

Mujeeb has also drawn parallels between Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,one of the most prolific composers of the classical era,and Ghalib. He says,“Both were gifted artistes who got recognition only after their deaths. They died after prolonged illnesses and both of them have contributed immensely to music.” Mirza Ghalib Ki Haveli features 40 poems of Ghalib that are narrated by him before every scene,thereby giving the audience a prelude to what they can expect. The ghazal have been presented in classical dance form. “The cast that comprises 15 actors use symbols and dance to express the meaning of Ghalib’s works,” explains the director.

Ibrahim Ashq,who will be seen on the stage after a hiatus of over three decades,had to do vigorous rehearsals for his role. The lyricist,who has not only acted in but also written the dialogues for several Hindi plays at the National School of Drama,also helped the actors to improve their diction and gave valuable inputs to the director about Ghalib’s life. He says,“I was surprised and happy when I was approached for the role. My only contention was that the musical should be executed well. Ghalib was the biggest Urdu poet and I’m his avid fan. I’ve been reading his poems and ghazals since the last 40-50 years. As far as acting was concerned,I focussed on memorising the dialogues first and then strived to get the right nuances.”

Mujeeb,on his part,is happy with the way the musical has shaped up and is now craving to direct a play on renowned Sufi poet Amir Khusro. He says,“My group,Ideal Drama and Entertainment Academy,has been presenting works on well-known litterateurs like Munshi Premchand and Rabindranath Tagore. Just as the archaeological department of India preserves the country’s monuments,we are striving to create an awareness about these famous writer’s works amongst the present generation who are unaware about the nation’s rich cultural heritage.”

Mirza Ghalib Ki Haveli premiered at Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir,Pune on November 3.