Deepa Gahlot
  • Cinemaah
  • Dramaah
    • Review
    • Interview
  • Literataah
  • Feministaah
  • Nostalgiaah
  • Miscellaniaah
  • Contact Me

Deepa Gahlot

  • Cinemaah
  • Dramaah
    • Review
    • Interview
  • Literataah
  • Feministaah
  • Nostalgiaah
  • Miscellaniaah
  • Contact Me
DramaahReview

Jo Dooba So Paar – Play Review

by Deepa Gahlot March 13, 2021
written by Deepa Gahlot March 13, 2021
Jo Dooba So Paar – Play Review

Soul Saga:

The life of Sufi poet Amir Khusrau lends itself beautifully to a musical dastaangoi performance, especially if writers-directors and lead actors Ajitesh Gupta and Mohit Agarwal are also excellent singers.

For Jo  Dooba So Paar, they also have a team of good singers and live musicians, who bring energy to the story of a Turkish-Indian child prodigy destined for greatness.  Since the format is that of seated story-telling, some variety is brought into the performance by having multiple actors voice Khusrau’s lines,  and other characters; there is also the foot-tapping music, with timeless songs like Chaap Tilak and Aaj Rang Hai.

There is a fair amount of published material on the 13th century poet-scholar-mystic, plus the stories passed down in an oral tradition. Born Abu’l Hasan Yamiduddin Khusrau in 1253 in the village of Patiyali in Uttar Pradesh, as a child, he had the famed ability to create a poem on the spot from four words given to him.

His proud father wanted him to get an education in Delhi, but died before he could take him there. His mother, fulfilled her husband’s wish, which is how, young Yamiduddin landed on the doorstep of Harzat Nizamuddin Auliya, who became his pir, lifelong inspiration. The Sufi influence of Ajmer’s saint-mystic Moinuddin Chishti also found its way into his writings.

It was on Auliya’s advice that he started writing in the down-to-earth language of the people, and came be known as the father of Urdu literature, inventor of the sitar and the creator of the qawwali—of the devotional kind that is sung at dargahs in praise of Allah, in which the almighty is perceived as the mehboob (beloved).

With his prodigious output in Persian, Urdu, Hindavi, Khusrau, in his role of court poet to seven Sultans Including the notorious Allauddin Khilji) , wrote poems extolling them, but also for the people and followers of Hazrat Auliya in various formats like the ghazal, masnavi, qata, rubai and a series of playful riddles. Since he travelled extensively through the country, he saw life from the point of view of the common people, instead of writing from the comforts of palaces. A lot of his work survives and continues to be sung by Sufi performers all over the subcontinent. When he died, at the age of 72, he was buried alongside his pir, Hazrat Auliya.

A life this rich and accomplished can hardly be encapsulated in a 90-minute performance, but Gupta and Agarwal have picked well-known incidents—a sort of Amir Khusrau for dummies—and studded the dastaangoi with a fine selection of songs.  A few minutes into the show, and audience clap along with the music.  Jo Dooba So Paar is staged with simplicity, but it exudes good cheer and is wonderfully entertaining.

 

Produced by Aranya

Written & Directed by Ajitesh Gupta and Mohit Agarwal

Music – Mohit Agarwal

Cast:  Ajitesh Gupta, Rattan Deep, Arun Chandaliya, Ashish Mishra, Jitendra Singh Rajput, Shalaka Redkar, Pooja Kulkarni, Rigved Singh Maurya

(This piece first appeared in Mumbaitheatreguide.com)

Ajitesh GuptaAmir KhusrauAranyaJo Dooba So PaarMohit AgarwalPlay Review
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
Deepa Gahlot

I listened to film stories as bedtime tales, got a library card as soon as I could read, and was taken to the theatre when I was old enough to stay awake. So, I grew up to love books, movies and plays. I have been writing about them for the better part of a quarter century, won a National Award for film criticism, wrote several books, edited magazines, had writings included in anthologies... work has been fun!

previous post
Skin Deep Beauty – Feministaah
next post
These Women – Book Review

You may also like

Anything’s Possible – Play Review

June 8, 2022

The Ghost Of The Mountains – Play Review

June 7, 2022

Aaeen – Play Review

May 13, 2022

Tape – Play Review

April 24, 2022

Ulka Mayur – Theatre Interview

April 18, 2022

Avneesh Mishra – Theatre Interview

January 11, 2022

Miracle On Matunga Street – Play Review

December 13, 2021

Lockdown Lisaisons – Play Review

December 8, 2021

With Love, Aap Ki Saiyaara – Play Review

November 10, 2021

Buddha – Play Review

November 10, 2021

About Me

About Me

I listened to film stories as bedtime tales, got a library card as soon as I could read, and was taken to the theatre when I was old enough to stay awake. So, I grew up to love books, movies and plays. I have been writing about them for the better part of a quarter century, won a National Award for film criticism, wrote several books, edited magazines, had writings included in anthologies... work has been fun!

Subscribe To My Newsletter And Stay Updated With My New Posts

Recent Posts

  • Masoom – Web Series Review

    June 22, 2022
  • The Unguided Missile – Feministaah

    June 22, 2022
  • She Season 2: Web Series Review

    June 22, 2022

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved by Deepa Gahlot. Designed by FQI


Back To Top