Sahir comes live on stage, enthralls them once again | Lucknow News
Lucknow: Lovers of Urdu poetry, meaningful drama, and classic Hindi film music were treated to a rare cultural gem as ‘Sahir – Har Ik Pal Ka Shayar’ was staged at the Sant Gadge Auditorium, Sangeet Natak Akademi in Gomtinagar. Presented in association with Awadh Conclave and produced by Rajiv Pradhan, the performance received an overwhelming response from a full house of theatre lovers, scholars, students, and long-time admirers of Sahir Ludhianvi‘s work. Written by Chandra Shekhar Varma and directed by Gopal Sinha, the play offered a moving and thoughtful portrayal of the life, poetry, and ideological journey of Sahir Ludhianvi, one of India’s most iconic lyricists. Rather than simply narrating the poet’s life, the script delved deep into his emotional and philosophical universe, exploring his love, disillusionment, and activism through both words and silence. The production featured a powerful performance by Sudhanshu Mani, whose impeccable Urdu diction and resonant baritone brought the poet vividly to life on stage. Rupali Chandra, as Amrita Pritam, effectively captured the essence and elegance of the legendary Punjabi poet. Chandra Shekhar Varma, as the narrator, helped maintain the pace of the story. Anuradha Tandon, Amit Harsh, Jyoti Singh, Aftab Alam, Faiz Khumar, and Rohit Tandon delivered strong supporting performances, marked by smooth dialogue delivery and intense emotional expression. Each actor brought depth and authenticity to their characters, allowing the audience to fully immerse themselves in Sahir’s world. A major highlight of the evening was the live musical integration of classic Hindi film songs like ‘Kabhi Kabhi Mere Dil Mein’, ‘Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer Bana Le’, ‘Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya’, and ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar’, penned by Sahir. These timeless melodies were rendered with emotional resonance by Dr Prabha Srivastava and Pankaj Kumar, earning thunderous applause from the audience. The selection of songs was widely praised for its thoughtful curation, seamlessly aligning with the narrative and amplifying the emotional gravity of each scene. Varma’s script wove these eternal songs into the very fabric of the storytelling, making them inseparable from the dramatic arc. The music team was joined by Shyam on synthesiser Ajay on Tabla, Monty on Bass Guitar and Deepak on Octopad.Director Gopal Sinha’s minimalist set design and symbolic lighting created a poetic atmosphere that guided the audience through Sahir’s internal struggles and the broader cultural shifts of his time. As the curtain fell, the echo of Sahir’s words — Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar — lingered in the auditorium. For many in attendance, it was a rediscovery of the enduring power of language, music, and memory.
