Naseeruddin Shah and other theatre stalwarts to celebrate Munshi Premchand's 145th birth anniversary on July 31
Dhanpat Rai Shrivastav, more familiar by his pseudonym, was born July 31, 1880 in a small village named Lamhi in Varanasi, UP. He died Oct 8, 1936.
Nearly a century and a half later, his searing depiction of caste and social dynamics, his exquisite usage of Hindi and Urdu (Premchand studied in a madrassa) and his aptitude for portraying the grey shades of human nature rather than simply classifying his characters as black or white continue to mesmerise readers.
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Two theatre groups will celebrate his 145th birth anniversary by organising special performances in Mumbai.
Senior actor-director Mujeeb Khan of IDEA group has loyally kept the flame of Munshi Premchand's memory alive over a couple of decades. His production 'Aadaab Main Premchand Hoon' has even found a place in the Limca Book of Records. This season, Khan will present his play July 19 and 31 at Shakuntalam Studio in Versova.
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Another theatre company named Drama Drafting, along with Katha Kathan, will host an exclusive reading session with none other than Naseeruddin Shah and writer-director Jameel Gulrays.
Drama Drafting's Rishabh Mishra said the event will be held from 7.30-9.30 pm July 31 at Rangshila Studio at Bungalow no. 72 in Aram Nagar-1, Versova. Entry is free but prior registration is required.
Munshi Premchand's classic works are Godaan, Nirmala, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Bade Ghar Ki Beti, Heera Moti, Bazaar E' Husn (Seva Sadan), Karmabhoomi, Gaban, Namak Ka Daroga, Mansarovar -- and Idgah, the touching story of little Hameed who -- even as his friends buy sweets and trinkets in an Eid fair -- spends his precious Eidi on buying a pair of tongs for his infirm grandmother who often burns her fingers while cooking rotis.
And a shocking narration unfolds in 'Kafan' where a wastrel father-son beg money from villagers to cremate the son's wife who died during childbirth, but end up ambling into a liquor joint to squander their bounty on meat and drink. The living are in greater need of money than the dead, they reason.
Several of Premchand's novels and short stories have been adapted for stage, cinema and television including Shatranj Ke Khilari and Sadgati by Satyajit Ray, Gaban starring Sunil Dutt and Sadhana, and Heera Moti featuring Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy.
His 145th anniversary is a nudge to those who have yet to savour the addictive joy of Premchand's works to start in right earnest.
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