Lovers of old Bollywood songs have hummed Kabhi Kabhi or Jaane Woh Kaise Log The, more times than you can count. Amitabh Bachchan broodingly singing Kabhi Kabhi on screen or Guru Dutt bringing Hemant Kumar’s haunting melodies to life are etched in our memories. But do you know who wrote these unforgettable songs?
It was Sahir Ludhianvi—one of India’s greatest poets and lyricists, a man who wrote in both Urdu and Hindi, leaving behind a legacy of words that still resonates.
On April 11, theatre lovers in Singapore will get a rare chance to see Sahir’s story come alive on stage. Acclaimed theatre director, actor, storyteller, and poet Danish Husain is set to bring the legend to life in Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon, a play that will be staged at the Victoria Theatre at 7 PM SGT.
I had the opportunity to have a virtual catch-up with Danish and the play’s creative producer, Amita Talwar, for an insightful conversation about this much-anticipated production. Danish shared how this project came to life—how, while celebrating a decade of his theatre company at Mumbai’s iconic Prithvi Theatre, he was approached by Amita with a script by Mir Ali Hussain on Sahir’s life. What followed was a creative journey that shaped this play into what it is today.
Sahir was a fiercely independent voice, never one to hold back, whether in poetry or real life. Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shayar Hoon will explore key moments of his life and feature over 15 timeless songs woven into the narrative.
To dive deeper into the making of this play and why Sahir’s words still matter today, watch my interview with Danish Husain and Amita Talwar on Connected to India’s Spotlight.
