DEKH RAHE HAIN NAYAN: Celebrating the Birth Centenary of Habib Tanvir
Curated by M.K. Raina and Tausif Rahman
Research and Documentation by Anjum Katyal
30th August - 1st September 2024
KCC 4th floor & Amphitheatre
On the 100th birth anniversary of one of the most influential playwrights and poets of post-independent India, Habib Tanvir, KCC is thrilled to present "Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan" – a three-day festival celebrating his life, work, and immense contributions to Indian theatre, literature, and art. This is the first major initiative to take serious note of Tanvir's ouevre, designed to include a diverse range of events including an exhibition, workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, film screenings, dramatic readings, dastangoi, musical and theatrical performances, and other cultural events showcasing Habib Tanvir's work and his profound impact on Indian theatre and art.
Renowned theatre professionals, well-versed in Tanvir’s work, will conduct workshops and masterclasses, offering aspiring playwrights and actors unique learning opportunities, while panel discussions by eminent theatre scholars and experts will delve deeply into Tanvir’s philosophy, his relevance in the contemporary scenario, and examine his enduring legacy. Join us in making this historical tribute to Tanvir a truly one-of-a-kind celebration!
Research and Documentation by Anjum Katyal
30th August - 1st September 2024
KCC 4th floor & Amphitheatre
On the 100th birth anniversary of one of the most influential playwrights and poets of post-independent India, Habib Tanvir, KCC is thrilled to present "Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan" – a three-day festival celebrating his life, work, and immense contributions to Indian theatre, literature, and art. This is the first major initiative to take serious note of Tanvir's ouevre, designed to include a diverse range of events including an exhibition, workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, film screenings, dramatic readings, dastangoi, musical and theatrical performances, and other cultural events showcasing Habib Tanvir's work and his profound impact on Indian theatre and art.
Renowned theatre professionals, well-versed in Tanvir’s work, will conduct workshops and masterclasses, offering aspiring playwrights and actors unique learning opportunities, while panel discussions by eminent theatre scholars and experts will delve deeply into Tanvir’s philosophy, his relevance in the contemporary scenario, and examine his enduring legacy. Join us in making this historical tribute to Tanvir a truly one-of-a-kind celebration!
REGISTER HERE
Concept Note
It is a universal tradition to celebrate and honour the achievements of eminent individuals who have contributed to society, particularly if it is his or her centenary.
Habib Tanvir deserves to be so honoured and celebrated, because of his unique position in developing a truly indigenous post independent contemporary theatre in India. After the nation attained freedom it was essential to decolonize India from the weight of western ideas of culture. Habib Tanvir was unique in realizing that the new cultural landscape of a free India would come from the seeds of the indigenous resources that had survived over centuries and were preserved in the rural world of India, although many of them were rapidly growing extinct due to changing socioeconomic conditions.
He went deep into studying available indigenous cultural forms, learning, conserving, reviving and celebrating them by sharing them with the people. For years he worked with regional folk theatre performers and studied their methodologies of training in acting, music, and rituals. Through this study he discovered the richness and versatility of the indigenous Indian actor, who acts, dances, sings, plays instruments: in short, a multi-skilled actor. This definition of the Indian actor was also described in the ancient Natya Sashtra. While working with them he developed them into fully contemporary actors who could take up any theatrical text of the world and perform it with ease, be it Sanskrit, Greek, Russian or German. Meanwhile he was also creating a new theatrical form which had local texture, rhythm and colour.
As a playwright he wrote masterpieces like Agra Bazaar, Charandas Chor, Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, Hirma Ki Kahani and many more. Because of their difference of form, content and structure these distinguished him as a playwright from the playwriting that was happening during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. He employed classical and folk formats to structure his stories, weaving into them the most contemporary social and political themes, often through entertaining and fun filled satire.
He was also a music expert and a poet. His poetry, while employing simple images and metaphors, digs deep into the psyche of the human condition in the contemporary Indian situation. He showed new ways of incorporating live music into theatre. The political dimension of his plays and performances explores the principle of the sacred through hard hitting irony while maintaining the fundamental humanity of his characters. The element of the sacred in his work is spiritual rather than religious,based on the dialectic of the material truths of the physical world.
He dedicated his life to working with the tribal performers of Chhattisgarh, where he grew up, and where he witnessed rural cultural life in all its colour and virtuosity. It is from here, with the Chhattisgarh Nacha performances, that he built his campaign of developing post-independent India’s new theatre, naming his troupe Naya Theatre, with its roots firmly grounded in the heat and dust of Chhattisgarh. Naya Theatre started touring for pan Indian performances and soon got invited to perform widely internationally.
Habib Tanvir took a theatre rooted in the world of indigenous spaces, with colour, singing, ritual and dance, and made it relevant to the national and the global stage as well. This is a unique contribution to the discourse of modernity in Indian art and culture: how to render the local, indigenous and the traditional simultaneously contemporary and global, in a fundamental way, without merely exploiting the exotic or colourful elements as decorative, illustrative or mere spectacle.
Habib Tanvir is no longer with us, but it is important to take a look at his life and work and to celebrate, honour and truly value his contribution to the world of theatre. This will be the first major initiative to take serious note of his service to the nation through multiple sessions including talks, demonstrations, panel discussions, films, an exhibition and performances. This will be a truly historical tribute to one of India’s most original and popular theatre persons in his centenary year.
About the Curator: M.K. Raina
M.K. Raina is a veteran theatre actor, director, filmmaker, and cultural activist. With a career spanning several decades, he has developed over 150 theatrical performances in different Indian languages and folk forms. He has also made documentary films and acted in several renowned television serials and feature films. He has been a visiting director at the National School of Drama, Delhi, FTII, Pune, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal and the University of Hawaii, among others. He has worked closely with urban and rural communities, conducting theatre workshops and performing street plays. As an actor, he has worked in over a hundred plays. He has directed several memorable productions like Kabira Khada Bazar Mein, Karmawali, Pari Kukh, Kabhi Na Chooden Khet and The Mother, Bhanbhatt Ki Atmakatha, Godan, among others. His production encompasses the works of Sanskrit classic plays, folk theatre and classic international playwrights like Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekov, Lorca, Brecht. Andha Yug, which he directed, was performed in Berlin and the Festival of India in the USSR.
Raina received the Sanskriti Samman in 1980, the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award in 1981, Best Director of the year by West Bengal Government 1982, and the Best Director's award of Punjabi Akademi, Delhi in 1987. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1995 and the Swarna Padak from the Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir in 1996 for his contribution to Indian Theatre. He was also awarded one of India's highest theatre awards, the B. V. Karanth award for lifetime achievement in 2007. The Delhi Government awarded him the Hindi Akademi Shikhar Samman in 2018.
Concept Note
It is a universal tradition to celebrate and honour the achievements of eminent individuals who have contributed to society, particularly if it is his or her centenary.
Habib Tanvir deserves to be so honoured and celebrated, because of his unique position in developing a truly indigenous post independent contemporary theatre in India. After the nation attained freedom it was essential to decolonize India from the weight of western ideas of culture. Habib Tanvir was unique in realizing that the new cultural landscape of a free India would come from the seeds of the indigenous resources that had survived over centuries and were preserved in the rural world of India, although many of them were rapidly growing extinct due to changing socioeconomic conditions.
He went deep into studying available indigenous cultural forms, learning, conserving, reviving and celebrating them by sharing them with the people. For years he worked with regional folk theatre performers and studied their methodologies of training in acting, music, and rituals. Through this study he discovered the richness and versatility of the indigenous Indian actor, who acts, dances, sings, plays instruments: in short, a multi-skilled actor. This definition of the Indian actor was also described in the ancient Natya Sashtra. While working with them he developed them into fully contemporary actors who could take up any theatrical text of the world and perform it with ease, be it Sanskrit, Greek, Russian or German. Meanwhile he was also creating a new theatrical form which had local texture, rhythm and colour.
As a playwright he wrote masterpieces like Agra Bazaar, Charandas Chor, Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, Hirma Ki Kahani and many more. Because of their difference of form, content and structure these distinguished him as a playwright from the playwriting that was happening during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. He employed classical and folk formats to structure his stories, weaving into them the most contemporary social and political themes, often through entertaining and fun filled satire.
He was also a music expert and a poet. His poetry, while employing simple images and metaphors, digs deep into the psyche of the human condition in the contemporary Indian situation. He showed new ways of incorporating live music into theatre. The political dimension of his plays and performances explores the principle of the sacred through hard hitting irony while maintaining the fundamental humanity of his characters. The element of the sacred in his work is spiritual rather than religious,based on the dialectic of the material truths of the physical world.
He dedicated his life to working with the tribal performers of Chhattisgarh, where he grew up, and where he witnessed rural cultural life in all its colour and virtuosity. It is from here, with the Chhattisgarh Nacha performances, that he built his campaign of developing post-independent India’s new theatre, naming his troupe Naya Theatre, with its roots firmly grounded in the heat and dust of Chhattisgarh. Naya Theatre started touring for pan Indian performances and soon got invited to perform widely internationally.
Habib Tanvir took a theatre rooted in the world of indigenous spaces, with colour, singing, ritual and dance, and made it relevant to the national and the global stage as well. This is a unique contribution to the discourse of modernity in Indian art and culture: how to render the local, indigenous and the traditional simultaneously contemporary and global, in a fundamental way, without merely exploiting the exotic or colourful elements as decorative, illustrative or mere spectacle.
Habib Tanvir is no longer with us, but it is important to take a look at his life and work and to celebrate, honour and truly value his contribution to the world of theatre. This will be the first major initiative to take serious note of his service to the nation through multiple sessions including talks, demonstrations, panel discussions, films, an exhibition and performances. This will be a truly historical tribute to one of India’s most original and popular theatre persons in his centenary year.
About the Curator: M.K. Raina
M.K. Raina is a veteran theatre actor, director, filmmaker, and cultural activist. With a career spanning several decades, he has developed over 150 theatrical performances in different Indian languages and folk forms. He has also made documentary films and acted in several renowned television serials and feature films. He has been a visiting director at the National School of Drama, Delhi, FTII, Pune, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal and the University of Hawaii, among others. He has worked closely with urban and rural communities, conducting theatre workshops and performing street plays. As an actor, he has worked in over a hundred plays. He has directed several memorable productions like Kabira Khada Bazar Mein, Karmawali, Pari Kukh, Kabhi Na Chooden Khet and The Mother, Bhanbhatt Ki Atmakatha, Godan, among others. His production encompasses the works of Sanskrit classic plays, folk theatre and classic international playwrights like Shakespeare, Ibsen, Chekov, Lorca, Brecht. Andha Yug, which he directed, was performed in Berlin and the Festival of India in the USSR.
Raina received the Sanskriti Samman in 1980, the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award in 1981, Best Director of the year by West Bengal Government 1982, and the Best Director's award of Punjabi Akademi, Delhi in 1987. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1995 and the Swarna Padak from the Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir in 1996 for his contribution to Indian Theatre. He was also awarded one of India's highest theatre awards, the B. V. Karanth award for lifetime achievement in 2007. The Delhi Government awarded him the Hindi Akademi Shikhar Samman in 2018.
Series of Masterclasses on Acting & Direction
On the 100th birth anniversary of one of the most influential playwrights and poets of post-independent India, Habib Tanvir, KCC is thrilled to present "Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan" – a three-day festival celebrating his life, work, and immense contributions to Indian theatre, literature, and art. Curated by Mr. MK Raina, this festival will take place from August 30th to September 1st, 2024.
This celebratory festival includes a series of Masterclasses on Acting & Directing by the finest facilitators in India. The Masterclasses are as follows:
1.Masterclass on Direction | Facilitator: Danish Husain | 30th August | Time: 10am – 12:30pm
2.Masterclass on Acting | Facilitator: Naseeruddin Shah | 31st August | Time: 10:00 am – 3:30pm
3.Masterclass on Acting | Facilitator: Raghuvir Yadav | 1st September | Time: 10am – 12:30pm
4.Masterclass on Direction | Facilitator: MK Raina | 1st September | Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
How to Apply:
Step 1: Pay a registration fee of INR 100 on Razorpay, and download the receipt.
Step 2: Email the following to PACoordinator.kcc@akst.org.in with the subject line Applicant’s Name_DRHN
Updated CV
A short showreel
A valid official ID
The Razorpay receipt
Please note:
An eminent jury will shortlist the CVs and select applicants for an in-person interview session.
After the interview selection, the final selected applicants must pay a consolidated fee of INR 9500 to enroll in all the Masterclasses. Subsidized student fee: INR 7500
Eligibility:
- Any Indian citizen can apply.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 21 to 40 years.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: 4th August 2024
- First Shortlist Announcement: 8th August 2024
- Second Shortlist Announcement: 9th August 2024
- Final In-Person Selection: 10th August 2024
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Habibnama
Date: 30th August 2024
Time: 7:15 pm onwards
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre, 1st floor
KCC presents the grand premiere of "Habibnama" by The Hoshruba Repertory founded by actor, storyteller, poet, and theatre director Danish Husain. Designed and directed by Husain, this 90-minutes long theatrical production is a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Habib Tanvir, celebrating his centenary year through a compelling blend of autobiographical writings and public interviews. With a stellar cast including Danish Husain, Purshottam Bhatt, and Mohan Sagar, and enriched by evocative vocals, music, and set design, this performance in Hindi/Urdu promises to captivate and inspire.
Known for bringing high literary texts to the stage in an accessible and engaging manner, Hoshruba Repertory has already made waves with performances like "Ek Punjab Ye Bhi," "Qissa Urdu Ki Aakhri Kitab Ka," and "Untitled1" at the prestigious Prithvi Theatre Festival. Join us for an evening of their extraordinary storytelling and experience the magic of "Habibnama"!
This event is a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
About the Director:
Danish Husain is an actor, poet, storyteller, and a theatre director. He started his career in theatre with Barry John and went on to work with directors like Habib Tanvir, Rajinder Nath, M.S. Sathyu, M.K. Raina, Sunil Shanbag, Sabina Mehta Jaitly, & Naseeruddin Shah. He was instrumental in reviving the lost art form of Urdu storytelling Dastangoi. He runs his own theatre company The Hoshruba Repertory in Mumbai and his latest productions include plays Guards At The Taj (2017) and Qissa Urdu Ki Aakhiri Kitaab Ka (2017) besides the ongoing storytelling project Qissebaazi (2016), and the poetry performance project Poetrification (2016) with the fellow actor Denzil Smith. His major film work includes India's entry to Oscar 2018 - Newton (2017), Soorma (2018), Baazaar (2018), Ankhon Dekhi (2013), Dhobi Ghat (2010), and Peepli Live (2010).
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Dastaan-E-Ashok-O-Akbar
Date: 31st August 2024
Time: 7:15pm onwards
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre, 1st floor
KCC presents Dastaan-E-Ashok-O-Akbar, a unique solo performance by none other than the iconic Ratna Pathak Shah this August!
Dastaan Goi (storytelling) is perhaps the most ancient form of Urdu theatre, written specifically to inform, entertain, and by its sometimes-ambivalent ending to keep the audience thirsting for more. The ancient Dastaans were tales of magic and mystery and followed a codified pattern of narration and in Dastaan-e-Ashok-o-Akbar, the writer, Ashok Lal, while following the time honoured traditions of a Dastaangoi performance, weaves a tale of magic and mystery set in our times-replete with coincidences and gallantry, all with a distinctly Utopian touch.
Join us for an unforgettable evening as Ratna Pathak Shah brings this timeless art form to life, blending tradition and modernity in the most mesmerizing ways possible. Book your seats now for the first-ever performance of Dastaan-e-Ashok-o-Akbar at Kolkata!
This event is a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
About the Artiste:
Ratna Pathak Shah, born in Mumbai, India, is a highly esteemed Indian actress known for her versatile performances in Indian cinema, television, and theater. With a career spanning several decades, Ratna Pathak Shah has become a respected figure for her nuanced portrayals of characters, blending humor, depth, and authenticity.
In addition to her successful television career, Ratna Pathak Shah has been an integral part of Indian theater. Her association with the theater group Motley, founded by Naseeruddin Shah, has led to numerous acclaimed productions, further establishing her as a theater artist of great merit. Ratna Pathak Shah’s contributions to Indian cinema and the performing arts have been recognized with honors such as the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Mandi" (1983).
Known for her intellectual approach to characters and her commitment to quality storytelling, Ratna Pathak Shah remains an influential and revered figure in the Indian entertainment industry.
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Habib Unplugged
Date: 1st September 2024
Time: 7:15 pm onwards
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre, 1st floor
On the third and final day of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, KCC presents Habib Unplugged – a musical ensemble with actor, music composer, and singer Raghubir Yadav and singer-songwriter and composer Subhadeep Guha, accompanied by a live band.
Immerse yourself in the lyrical world of Habib Tanvir with an exquisite evening of his songs and poetry. This curated performance promises to captivate you, celebrating the profound artistry and cultural legacy of one of India's most revered theatre maestros. Join us in celebrating an unforgettable musical journey that will resonate with your heart and soul.
About the Artistes:
Raghubir Yadav, born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, is a highly accomplished Indian actor, music composer, and singer known for his significant contributions to Indian cinema and theater. Raghubir Yadav started his acting journey in the world of theater, gaining recognition for his work with the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi. He has also been a part of acclaimed films such as "Peepli Live" (2010), "Newton" (2017), and "Angoor" (1982), among others. Yadav has contributed as a music composer and playback singer in films and has showcased his musical abilities on various platforms. Yadav's association with theater remains a significant aspect of his career. He has been actively involved in stage performances and has worked with esteemed theater groups, including NSD Repertory Company. Over the years, Raghubir Yadav has received several awards for his outstanding contributions to the field of acting, including the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Peepli Live" (2010). His dedication to his craft, combined with his ability to connect with audiences, has made him a respected and beloved figure in the Indian entertainment industry.
Subhodeep Guha is a singer-songwriter, composer, musician and music director associated with two musical groups – ArshiNagar Band and HooliGanIsm. For more than 15 years he has been researching upon the use of music along with its role and importance in penetrating the mind and brains of the spectators. The main focus of his work is how to heighten music to the level where it becomes a lead character itself and not only a background element. He has worked on more than six films as well as several web series and docu features. He has been awarded a fellowship from the Ministry of Culture to research Ambience and Spirituality in folk & traditional music. He has also received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Purashkaar 2018 (Sangeet Natak Academy Award) by the Indian Government and the Shambhu Mitra Puraskar from the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal.
Jashn - e - Habib
Date: 30th August 2024
Time: 3:45 – 4:15 pm
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre, 1st floor
Join us at KCC for a performance of songs from Habib Tanvir’s plays by Nageen Tanvir, the renowned classical vocalist, thespian, and daughter of Habib Tanvir, who breathed new life into Naya Theatre, a theatre company founded by her parents in 1959.
This event is open to all and is a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
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Naya Theatre ke Gaane
Date: 30th August 2024
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Venue: KCC Amphitheatre, 1st floor
Folk singer Poonam Tiwari and her troupe from Chhattisgarh will be gracing KCC on 30th August to bring us some legendary tunes from Habib Tanvir’s plays including Ek Chor Ne Rang Jamaya (from Charandas Chor), Dekh Rahe Hain Nayna, Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan (from Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan), Aadmi Namak (from Agra Bazar), Aisan Sundar Naari Ke Jaat (from Bahadur Kalarin), among others.
Register now to listen to Tanvir’s brilliance as a poet and songwriter in Poonam Bai’s unforgettable voice!
This event is open to all and a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
About the Artiste:
Poonam Tiwari has been working in Habib Tanvir's plays since 1978 and her husband Deepak Tiwari used to play the role of a thief in Tanvir's 'Charandas Chor'. Poonam Tiwari is probably the last living singer who keeps alive the song and music tradition of Habib Tanvir. To carry forward this tradition of Tanvir, Raza Foundation decided to provide a grant of two lakh rupees every year to Poonam Tiwari.
Poonam Tiwari and Deepak Tiwari have performed Habib Tanvir's plays in 25 countries including Europe, France, America, Greece. They have played lead roles in Tanvir’s plays 'Gaon Ke Naam Sasurar, Mor Naam Damad', 'Bahadur Kalarin', 'Hirama Ki Amar Kahani', and 'Sonsagar'.
Book Launch and Discussion
Date: 30th August 2024
Time: 2:35 – 3:35 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
Join us at KCC for a book launch of Habib Tanvir and his Legacy in Theatre: A Centennial Reappraisal, edited by Anjum Katyal and Javed Malick, and published by Seagull Books. The book, which is a collection of essays exploring the lasting impact of Habib Tanvir’s pioneering theatre will be launched by Naseeruddin Shah in the presence of the editor Anjum Katyal and contributors MK Raina, Sudhanva Deshpande and Nageen Tanvir.
The book launch will be followed by a panel discussion on the topic of ‘The Theatre Legacy of Habib Tanvir in India Today’. The panelists include theatre actor and director MK Raina; theatre director and actor Sudhanva Deshpande; actor, storyteller, and theatre director Danish Husain, and film and theatre director Suman Mukhopadhyay. This session will be moderated by researcher and anchor Syed Mohd. Irfan.
These events are a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
About the book:
Habib Tanvir and his Legacy in Theatre: A Centennial Reappraisal delves into the profound legacy of Habib Tanvir (1923–2009), a luminary in the post-Independence Indian theater scene. Tanvir’s decades-long contributions as a director, poet, playwright, and actor are explored by a diverse group of scholars, practitioners, and peers. The book examines his pivotal role in founding the Naya Theatre in 1959, a pioneering group blending rural traditions with contemporary theatre, challenging conventional norms. Against the backdrop of contemporary societal and political shifts, the essays reflect on Tanvir’s fearless resistance against the right wing in his later years, particularly his challenges to religious dogma and caste discrimination in works like Ponga Pandit. The collection also emphasizes the enduring impact of Tanvir’s seminal work, Charandas Chor, highlighting its adaptability across varied cultural landscapes.
Book Launch
Date: 31st August 2024
Time: 5:00 – 5:15 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
Join us at KCC for a book launch of Safdar Hashmi: Towards Theatre for a Democracy, written by Anjum Katyal, and published by Orient Blackswan in 2024. The book, containing the English translations of three plays by Jana Natya Manch, offers a close look at actor, poet, and playwright Safdar Hashmi’s career, from his early life and the influences that formed him; to his first forays into theatre in Delhi in the 1970s; to the mature work he produced in the 1980s; and finally, the legacy he left behind.
This event is a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
About the book:
Safdar Hashmi (1954–1989) became a national icon of resistance after his death on 2 January 1989, following a brutal attack while performing a street play. The firebrand artist, actor, playwright, poet, and activist was at the forefront of the development and subsequent popularity of street theatre, and his group, Jana Natya Manch (Janam), is still considered a leader in the genre of political theatre. There is little reliable scholarship on the history of theatre in India and on Safdar Hashmi’s contribution to Indian theatre. Examining the cultural and political environment of the time, Anjum Katyal places Safdar and Janam in the context of the larger history of Indian political theatre. She argues that with the development of a powerful, thought-provoking, and effective street theatre, Safdar was moving towards a vision and practice of democratic theatre. The book analyses how both he and Janam were part of a larger project of democratisation, and how democratic theatre can help to build a healthy democratic polity. The author brings together sources ranging from detailed interviews to writings by and on Safdar, as well as critical pieces on Janam’s theatre. The study is supplemented by her masterful English translations of three of Janam’s most popular plays: Machine, Hatyare, and Aurat.
Significance of Habib Tanvir’s Theatre in Today’s Socio-Political Context
Date: 30th August 2024
Time: 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
The poet and playwright Habib Tanvir was incredibly vocal and critical about the evils of the caste system, religious fundamentalism, and fascism, and his plays portrayed these sensitive inequalities in an apt manner, laced with humour. Join us at KCC for a panel discussion on the significance of his plays in today’s sociopolitical context.
The panelists at this discussion include film and theatre actor Naseeruddin Shah; film director and screenwriter Sudhir Mishra; writer and cultural theorist Brahma Prakash; critic and researcher of film, theatre, and literature Samik Bandyopadhyay; and theatre director and professor of drama Anuradha Kapur. This session will be moderated by theatre actor and director MK Raina.
This event is open to all and a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary
Habib Tanvir as a Playwright, Poet, and Musician
Date: 31st August 2024
Time: 3:30 – 5:00 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
Habib Tanvir was indeed an astonishing multifaceted personality. While being a keen poet and playwright, he was also a passionate musicologist and musical anthropologist, for his work notebooks from the late 1950s to the early 1970s were full of the songs he had collected from Chhattisgarh since his childhood.
Come and listen to experts discuss Tanvir’s multiple accomplishments in all these different roles at a panel discussion at KCC!
The panelists include theatre director, actor, and author Sudhanva Deshpande; film writer and actor Atul Tiwari; critic and researcher of film, theatre, and literature Samik Bandyopadhyay; film and theatre director Suman Mukhopadhyay; and writer and cultural theorist Brahma Prakash. This session will be moderated by theatre director and professor of drama Anuradha Kapur.
This event is open to all and a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
Habib: As They Knew Him
Date: 31st August 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
Habib Tanvir, being a man of many talents and playing the roles of poet, playwright, musician, and actor with the same finesse, met and engaged with different other distinguished people of diverse talents in his field of work. These forces, when combined, gave birth to some of India’s finest productions and works of literature.
At KCC, we have brought together a few such illustrious people to understand how they knew Tanvir and in what capacity, and how they worked together, at a panel discussion.
The panelists include classical vocalist and thespian Nageen Tanvir, folk singer Poonam Tiwari, film director and screenwriter Sudhir Mishra, theatre director, actor, and author Sudhanva Deshpande, and poet, essayist and critic Ashok Vajpeyi. This session will be moderated by author, editor, and translator Anjum Katyal.
This event is open to all and a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
Habib Tanvir and his Modernism
Date: 1st September 2024
Time: 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
Moneeka Misra and Habib Tanvir established Naya Theatre in 1959, and this group went on to redefine modern Indian stagecraft, breaking the rules of conventional proscenium theatre, and incorporating folk forms to create a new theatrical language. Join us at KCC for an insightful panel discussion on Tanvir and all his unique ways of refashioning modernity!
The panelists at the discussion include writer and cultural theorist Brahma Prakash; poet, essayist and critic Ashok Vajpeyi; writer, editor and translator Anjum Katyal; and theatre actor and director MK Raina. This session will be moderated by Gagandeep, Assistant Professor of Drama at Rabindra Bharati University.
This event is a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
Traditional vs Contemporary Theatre
Date: 1st September 2024
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
KCC presents a stimulating panel discussion on Traditional vs Contemporary theatre, to elaborate on the many ways how Habib Tanvir balanced the weight of tradition and heritage with the needs and sensibilities of the current, present day.
The panelists at this discussion include actor, music composer, and singer Raghubir Yadav; theatre director and professor of drama Anuradha Kapur; playwright, director, and theatre activist Probir Guha; actor and theatre personality Bibhas Chakraborty; director, designer, actor, and theatre director Chandradasan. This session will be moderated by cultural commentator and theatre critic Anshuman Bhowmick.
This event is a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC from 30th August to 1st September 2024, celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
Gaon Ke Naon Theatre, Mor Naon Habib
Date: 1st September 2024
Time: 4:45 – 6:00 pm
Venue: KCC, 4th floor
KCC presents a screening of Gaon Ke Naon Theatre, Mor Naon Habib (2005), a film directed by Sanjay Maharishi and Sudhanva Deshpande on 1st September 2024 as a part of Dekh Rahe Hain Nayan, a three-day theatre festival at KCC celebrating the life and legacy of Habib Tanvir on his birth centenary.
About the film:
My Village is Theatre, My Name is Habib is a 2005 documentary film by Sudhanva Deshpande and Sanjay Maharishi. Habib Tanvir (1923-2009) was among India's theatre legends. Along with his wife Moneeka, daughter Nageen, and a group of supremely talented rural actors and singers, he led the Naya Theatre for half a century, from 1959 to his death. This film captures the life of Naya Theatre on the road between 2002 and 2004. We see Habib Tanvir and Naya Theatre performing their classic Charandas Chor; we discover Habib Tanvir's working methods; we travel with the actors to their villages and learn their stories; we see them as they are attacked by the Hindu Right for performing an old folk classic; we see Habib Tanvir's amazing response to the attack; we see Habib Tanvir working on a new production, on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. This is a rare and precious behind-the-scenes record of the life of Naya Theatre on the road.
