Sahir’s world comes alive with hues of love, longing & rebellion

Lucknow: ‘Sansar ki har shay ka itna hi fasana hai…', these eternal lines that encapsulate the philosophy legendary poet Sahir Ludhianvi, set the tone for the evening during the staging of ‘Another Encore of Sahir: Har Ik Pal Ka Shayar', a musical drama produced by Rajiv Pradhan, at Sant Gadge auditorium of Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) on Friday.At the heart of the production lay Sahir's world, a life lived in verse, throbbing with rebellion, love, loss, longing, and an unrelenting quest for truth. The play brought alive his tumultuous yet tender journey, celebrating Sahir not merely as a lyricist of immortal songs but as a restless conscience, forever negotiating justice and beauty.Written by Chandra Shekhar Varma and directed by Gopal Sinha, the play offered a moving portrayal of Sahir's emotional and ideological universe.Rather than unfolding as a linear biography, it ventured inward, exploring the poet's love and disillusionment, his silences and his activism. The stage design and lighting, also conceived by Gopal Sinha, provided a visual canvas that enriched the narrative and heightened its emotional texture.The cast featured Dr Sudhanshu Mani, Rupali Chandra, and Chandra Shekhar Varma in lead roles, supported by Anuradha Tandon, Amit Harsh, Jyoti Singh, Aftab Alam, Adil, and Rohit Tandon. Mani's portrayal, distinguished by impeccable Urdu diction and a resonant baritone, brought Sahir to life.Rupali Chandra, as Amrita Pritam, embodied the grace and emotional intensity of the iconic Punjabi poet, while Chandra Shekhar Varma, as the narrator, sustained the rhythm and continuity of the narrative.A major highlight of the evening was the live musical rendering of classic Hindi film songs penned by Sahir and sung with emotional depth by Prabha Srivastava and Pankaj Kumar. The timeless compositions elicited thunderous applause.The evening was anchored by Anupama S Mani. As the curtain fell, the echo of Sahir's unforgettable words, ‘Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar', lingered in the auditorium. The event was sponsored by the State Bank of India and YONO.