The trigger to translate Girish Karnad’s The Dreams of Tipu Sultan came when Zafer Mohiuddin read about Tipu giving away his two sons to the British. “It was a six-month process of translating the play,” says Zafer during a technical rehearsal of Tipu Sultan Ke Khwaab. “My interaction with Girish Karnad goes back 20 years. He is like a mentor to me,” says the voice-over artiste in his characteristic baritone.
“When I approached him, he gave me permission to translate the play.” There are two scenes written in Devanahalli Deccani, says Zafer. “One scene is with his father, Haider Ali, and the other with his family,” explains Zafer, who has worked with well-known theatre groups such as Samudaya, Bangalore Little Theatre and Manch, and formed Kathputliyaan Theatre Group. Karnataka State Urdu Academy released the book Tipu Sultan Ke Khwaab. Now Zafer wants to stage the play to a wider audience to bring to light the achievements and struggles of Tipu.
The play has 25 actors and it took about six months to put the production together. “We auditioned 700 artistes,” he says. Close attention has been paid to every detail — from costumes, designed by GS Jayanthi and set design by Zafer, Jayanthi and Arun Sagar to the lighting by Pradeep Belawadi and music by Ustaad Faiyaz Khan. “We want to set the record straight on Tipu,” says Zafer.
“He didn’t get the support of the Marathas or the Nizams. They deceived him.” But the play is an exploration of his inner life. Known for his courage and as a political visionary, Tipu fought bravely against the British. Tipu Sultan ke khwaab will be staged on July 13, at 6 pm and July 14 at 7 pm at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Malleswaram. Entry passes will be given at the venue half an hour before the play. Call 9035778967.