Laila Majnu’s timeless tale comes alive

Evoking the essence of the iconic love story of Laila Majnu, a city-based foundation hosted a vibrant event at the Sangeet Natak Akademi auditorium. The evening was dedicated to Padma Bhushan Amritlal Nagar, a renowned playwright from Lucknow, and opened with a discussion on his life and his contributions to the field of arts.The talk featured Richa Nagar, granddaughter of Amritlal Nagar, who travelled all the way from the US, to be part of this special evening. In conversation with artist Ashok Banerjee, Richa fondly recalled how her grandfather used to make up stories for her. Later, the stage was set for the enchanting play Laila Majnu. Originally written nearly 150 years ago by Munshi Dil Lucknowi, the play was brought to life with a musical score featuring around 15 songs. The soulful melodies were performed live by Zafar Sanjari and his musical ensemble. Bhavika Chaturvedi and Som Ganguly, in the roles of Laila and Majnu respectively, were widely praised for their stellar performances.— Manas Mishra