The magical couplets of Mirza ‘Ghalib’ enchanted the Bhopalites through a splendid presentation on Ghalib’s life. An Urdu play ‘Qaid-e-Hayat’ was staged at Antrang Hall, Bharat Bhavan on Sunday. The play was presented under the guest performance organized by Rangmandal repertory wing of Bharat Bhavan.
Written by a noted writer and author Surendra Verma, the play was carved as a splendid stage performance by a renowned theatre artiste Danish Iqbal. It was further performed by Sada Arts Society, New Delhi. The play highlights the struggle of a poet as he tries to make a balance between his personal and professional life.
The play begins with a conversation between Umrao and her sister. During the conversation, they discovered about the increasing debts on Mirza and his life becoming next to hell. In the next scene, Mirza and a young poet Parvez delivers an interesting argument over ‘Takhalus’ before the audience. Afterwards, Mirza and his wife Umrao try to resolve their problems and on the other hand Ghalib’s lover Katiba is waiting for him desperately.
The beginning of the last act is marked with a span of one year. Ghalib returns from Kolkata after his appeal regarding his pensions were rejected. Now he is under house arrest as a result of nonpayment of credit to one of his creditors. Shirin, Katiba’s friend tells Mirza about Katiba’s illness. Here Mirza is craving to meet Katiba and on the other hand Umrao fights with Mirza over his love towards Katiba. At the end, he hears the news of Katiba's demise and his soul cries out to him.
Qaid-e-hayat captures the troubled world of ghalib, his bitter domestic life, his financial hardships and above all his tragic love for Katiba. While talking to The Pioneer, director of the play, Danish Iqbal said, “This play highlights the life of Mirza ‘Ghalib’ and what an artist goes through. In the whole play, more emphasis was kept on acting and presentation rather than covering it up with other things, so for this trained actors has performed in the play.”
The charm of Ghalib’s poetry was kept alive as the audiences experienced his enchantment in a unique way. Other than outstanding performance by the artists, the costumes and lighting added more zeal in the presentation.