A 10-year age difference is a generation gap. Now imagine a two century age gap. That was the theme of the play '
Ghalib In New Delhi', which was recently staged in a Noida mall. In the play, 19th century's famous poet
Mirza Ghalib visits 21st century Delhi to see how famous he is. From learning the modern vocabulary to becoming a Page 3 celebrity, Ghalib's hilarious journey in Delhi had the audience in splits.
Ghalib in conversation with a drunkard
The play opens with a scene where Ghalib, played by
M Sayeed Alam, is seen writing a letter to his friends back in heaven, while enjoying paan at Kasmere Gate ISBT. The huge change in the language leaves Ghalib astonished, but he quickly adapts. He reaches a bus stop and asks to be dropped at his haveli in Ballimaran,
Chandni Chowk. On the way, he is also duped by a rickshaw puller, since he isn't familiar with the new Indian currency. He then meets a policeman, who asks for bribe in exchange of information about his destination. When Ghalib gets tired of being cheated, he decides to just sit on the road till someone offers help. Eventually, he meets an IAS aspirant from Patna, who offers to be his roommate. Ghalib's new roommate, Jaihind, played by
Manish Singh, then offers to help him with the publicity to make him famous again. The poet visits ad companies and advertisers, and finally ends up becoming a Page 3 celebrity, complete with a new look.
Ghalib with the policeman
Alam, who was also the director of the play, said, "In my view, the one person who deserves to be reborn is Mirza Ghalib. And if he had to choose a city to be reborn in, it would definitely be Delhi. Though Ghalib was born in Agra, he visited Delhi as his in-laws lived here. He fell in the love with this city, and therefore, the first city that will come in Ghalib's mind will be Delhi."
Ghalib with his roommate Jaihind (Manish Singh)
So was it difficult to play Ghalib? Alam said, "The last scene, where Ghalib is not in his traditional attire, but is dressed as a common man of the 21st century, is a little tough. It's easy to hold the audience's attention in Ghalib's complete getup, but it gets difficult to portray Ghalib in a non-Ghalib attire."
Ghalib, in his new look, talking to his friend
Ghalib in conversation with an advertiser
- Richa.Sharma1@timesgroup.com
