Dear Readers,
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I am back to writing letters! Letters have always been an interesting aspect of
one’s expressions and over the years, with the advent of technologically sound electronic
mails, letters have become a thing of the past. But still, letters hold that personal
touch, the feel that only few can understand.
My urge to writing letters began last night. Strange, is it? Not anymore. For a
decade now, a simple and poignant play “Tumhari Amrita” is still going strong in
the United States of America. Thanks to Ishani Arts and Rita Travel Services, Tumhari
Amrita regaled the Asian Indian Michigan audience with a silent charm.
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Attended by over 400 Asian Indians from Michigan at the spacious Clarenceville Auditorium
Livonia, Tumhari Amrita is a theatre experience with no sets, props or stage gimmicks.
Tumhari Amrita explores relationships between two interesting individuals who communicate
with each other through letters. In a performance like 'Tumhari Amrita', “the audience
becomes pivotal to the play”, added Feroz Khan, the much acclaimed director. Feroz
is known for his theatrical works such as Mahatma v/s Gandhi, Saalgirah, Salesman
Ramlal, The Royal Hunt and many more.
What is so different about this play? The difference is seeing two people sit at
their individual tables and proceed to read methodically from a sheaf of letters.
The answer is found in the play where “words dominate the need for rapid action,
sentences and its natural poetic sense compete, not challenge each other”, emphasized
Feroz. In the new world of lightning email and sms, the ease and the emotional comfort
and intimacy of letter writing remains unchallenged.
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The play is based about three generations ago, in a post-Independence India and
chronicles the life long correspondence between a pair of friends and later lovers.
With just two articulate characters the witty, charming and spunky Amrita and straight
laced, man of honor and purpose Zulfi – the no-nonsense intimacy allows them to
slip into the roles of people who love each other for life, but, for one reason
or another, remain apart. This memorable journey of friendship captivated in the
form of letters (with fresh and breezy performances by Shabana Azmi and Farooque
Sheikh) forms the core theme of this unfulfilled story of love. The play throws
light on human emotions and real sentiments with warm intimate humor.
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Full of zest and punch, the play also offers some sharp bites. From the birthday
invitation to Zulfi to the last letter almost 40 years later, from silences and
pauses, to marriages-broken and strong, drinking and smoking addictions to death
and second wives, painting nudes to politics, this artistic play travels like a
caravan.
90 minutes later, a thought crossed by – what ever happened to my postman who delivered
those numerous cards and letters?
After the play, Shabana Azmi, Farooque Sheikh and Feroz Khan interacted and shared
their thoughts with the audience. They were gracious enough to pose for pictures
and also sign autographs. “I liked the play very much. The play had the right script,
the right performers. It was a different experience”, said Farida and Kasim Ali,
Farmington Hills.
Ishani Arts has been bringing quality shows to the Michigan audience since 1985.
“The audience has encouraged me to bring interesting and thinking artists and with
my experience in theatre, I analyze the shows for quality and content”, said Ajit
Mehta of Ishaani Arts, Michigan.
Later that evening, the performers along with a select group of invitees enjoyed
dinner at Sitar Indian Cuisine.
Yours truly,
Anupama
Miindia shared a few moments with Feroz Khan, the director, a leading theater personality
from Mumbai.
Tumhari Amrita was conceived many years back in Boston. “It was primarily discussed
by a writer called Chandrakant Shah. The concept of “Love Letters” was very interesting.
I was the head of the Prithvi Theatre and this play is a tribute to late Jennifer
Kapoor (Actress, wife of the charming Indian actor Shashi Kapoor).” said Feroz.
In this adaptation, the audience becomes pivotal to the play. This, in itself is
a great achievement in an age where the Performing Arts are losing the hold that
they had on the general public.
In his quiet manner, Feroz says that a theatre performance is not a pseudonym for
extravaganza. Sure, lights, sound and detailed sets contribute to the performance,
but in the truest sense, a theatrical performance needs space, a qualitative audience
and actors to perform.
What strikes Feroz in the play is the “freshness” the performers bring in spite
of a decade of 260 stage shows of “Tumhari Amrita” all over the world.
On the reasons behind the casting – Feroz reiterated that “Shabana Azmi and Farooque
Sheikh are two thinking personalities who speak the language well and who are compatible
to each other. These two performers can hold the attention of the audience.”
“10 years, I haven’t seen their acting fade. They have been performing with the
same sensitivity and enthusiasm and the depths they have reached as human beings
is conveyed. What has changed is their age and not their performance”, explained
Feroz.
Well audience, if you have missed this play, do not worry- Feroz Khan will be visiting
the United States next year (sometime March 2003) in a new project with the effervescent
Anupam Kher in “Kuch Bhi Ho Saktha Hai”.
As a director, Feroz Khan has directed six full-length plays and 12 one-act plays.
In 1990, The Royal Hunt of the Sun (52 shows) by Peter Shaffer, which he directed,
was declared Play of the Year by the Times of India. For Mahtma v/s Gandhi, he received
rave reviews from the press in South Africa and a commendation letter from none
other than The President of India, Mr. K R Narayanan. As the Artistic Director of
the prestigious Prithvi Theatre, Bombay, from 1984 to 1992, he pioneered the Annual
International Theatre Festival of plays. Through his plays, Feroz has also raised
funds for charitable causes. US $ 50,000 from a performance of Tumhari Amrita was
donated to earthquake relief. He has done shows for the Hunger Project and helped
raise money for an India Chair at the University of Columbia.
A visibly tired Shabana Azmi spoke to miindia for a few minutes at Sitar Indian
restaurant. Shabana Azmi was in New York for the 40th New York Film Festival that
felicitated her with a “Special Retrospective Program” that featured a few of her
selected films from 28 September to 10 October. This being the tenth anniversary
of “Tumhari Amrita”, Shabana visited Michigan, courtesy Ishaani Arts Rita Travel
Services.
“Tumhari Amrita is a very close play to me. I really enjoyed being in Michigan and
thanks to the audience. They were great”, said Shabana Azmi. Asked about her multi-faceted
personality and the” real-life” role she really likes the most, she explained that
though all these are different aspects of my personality “they are all intertwined
with each other”. “These roles are not far removed from each other as they all express
the same concerns”. “I am against religious fundamentalism and being an activist
and a film theatre personality, I enjoy interacting with people”, said Shabana.
My role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador requires me to tackle population issues. On
her thoughts about sustainable development in India, Shabana emphasized that the
way we can achieve sustainable development is by placing women in the center of
developmental issues. “Make them active participants instead of passive recipients.
Involve the women in decision-making process”. Another approach is pursuing indigenous
forms of development instead of blindly following the western concept of “big is
beautiful”, explained Shabana. My best thought is to invest in education, health
and social causes as this paves way for progress, mentioned Shabana.
Ms. Shabana Azmi is also a community activist who has been in the forefront of AIDS
awareness campaign. Miindia questioned Ms. Azmi about the distribution of retro
viral drugs in India. To this, she stated that the “drugs are very expensive”. “The
primary thought that occurs to me is to concentrate on awareness and prevention”.
Pharmaceutical industries in India need to ensure that the drugs are readily available
to the people. This requires a lot of research funding and it is again a case of
bottomless pit, explained Shabana. For this the educated should come forward and
spread awareness to both rural/urban India.
Shabana voiced her true concern that “in order for the community to improve, you
have to work with the community”. Political aspirants who are comfortably settled
in United States need to work with the grassroots, NGO’s in order to serve the community.
Get back to India and touch the soil. This is true service.
Born to the acclaimed lyricist Kaifi Azmi and known stage actress Shaukat Kaifi,
Ms Azmi earned a name for herself as an actress not only in commercial cinema but
in parallel cinema as well. She won the National Award for her very first film Ankur
in 1974, and won National Awards for three consecutive years (1983-85) for her sensitive
portrayals in Arth, Kahndhar and Paar. Ms Azmi has been a committed social activist
too. She has also addressed students and faculty of several universities in India
and abroad, including MIT, Boston, University of Chicago and University of London.
Ms Azmi is a member of the National Integration Council headed by the Prime Minister.
She is married to celebrated poet and scriptwriter Javed Akhtar. Shabana Azmi is
also the Member of Indian Parliament and the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for India.
Known for her commitment to social causes, Ms Azmi will advocate population and
development, reproductive health and gender issues. She will also visit UNFPA’s
project sites, interact with communities and address population-related concerns
at various fora.
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