Innovation and creativity are the two key factors that have constantly inspired Salim Arif. The theatre veteran is known for staging works that are not only issue-based but also entertaining like Kharaashein- The Scars From Riots,a collage of Gulzars writings on communal harmony,Lakeerein that explores the love-hate relationship between India and Pakistan and productions like Hum-Suffer and Kachche Lamhe that focus on the intricacies of human relationships. Apart from having reputed actors on board like Farooque Shaikh,Lubna Salim,Atul Kulkarni,Yashpal Sharma,Harsh Chhaya,Kiran Karmarkar and Anoop Soni,Arifs theatre company Essay Communications also features singers like Bhupinder-Mitali and Talat Aziz who have performed as part of its various productions. As part of the 10-year celebrations,the group had a week-long festival that concludes on August 28 at Mumbais Prithvi Theatre. The event featured two new plays and a poetry recitation by writer-filmmaker Gulzar wherein the lyricist recited his latest unpublished poems. The celebrations kick-started with Kaptaan Chacha,a play based on Gulzars writing on the Independence era and the importance of the Tricolour,which was staged by differently-abled children from Arushi,a Bhopal-based not-for-profit organisation. First staged in Bhopal,the production culminated after the NGO invited Arif to do a theatre workshop with the kids last month. Talking about the experience,the director says,It was interesting and challenging to work with these kids. Usually we are happy to create a world for them wherein they can interact and be comfortable with people who are like them. But thats a wrong move on our part. We need to bring them in the mainstream society and theatre is a good medium to do so. It gives them a sense of empowerment. Consequently when they perform in front of the public,it reduces our prejudices against them. The second play Sunte Ho was a double-bill that reflected the status of women in society and how they have been treated by men over the ages. While the first story is based on Rabindranath Tagores Bou Patro (the wifes letter) about how a wifes letter to her husband highlights the gender divide,the second story Mard is about a contemporary woman who finds herself answerable to the vanity of man,in this case her own son. Lubna Salim plays the lead role in both the stories. A new version of Javed Siddiquis Hum-Suffer featuring Harsh Chhaya and Salim was also staged wherein a new set of poems by Gulzar was introduced and the ending was re-worked. Apart from Mulla Re Mulla and Kharaashein featuring Atul Kulkarni and Yashpal Sharma,a special show dedicated to poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz was also held. Titled Gulon Mein Rang Bharo, it featured songstress Rekha Bhardwaj paying a tribute to Faiz by singing his poems that were set to tune by composer-director Vishal Bhardwaj. The last decade has been a whirlwind yet enriching experience for Arif. He says,I have worked with Gulzarsaab and Javed Siddiqui two of the best writers of the country,and have given an opportunity to actors like Harsh and Kiran who returned to theatre with my productions. We have also managed to travel across the country as well as abroad. We have had shows in Dubai,Singapore and New York. And though he has been successful in his goals,he is still raring to go and explore new avenues. The idea of setting up Essay Communications was to create a platform for like-minded people who are culturally-inclined. We have been successful in doing that to some extent like Rekha and Vishals tribute and Gulzarsaabs recitation. We need to take measures to ensure that poetry survives and offer an alternate means of entertainment to the audience. We are now looking at making documentaries on artistes like Dr Shreeram Lagoo and Sarita Joshi who are stalwarts in their own right so that the younger generation knows about them, he signs off. rinky.kumar@expressindia.com
