‘Pain always finds an echo if it’s real’

‘Pain always finds an echo if it’s real’

Aadyam’s final production, for the fifth edition of the theatre festival, is going to be a musically-driven story of romance interspersed with drama, both real and surreal. Zoon – Noor Kashmir Ka, which has been written and directed by award-winning playwright Purva Naresh, is a dramatic Hindi re-interpretation of the true story of Habba Khatoun, the nightingale of Kashmir. This play stars prominent theatre artists like Ipshita Chakraborty Singh, Nivedita Bhargava, Harsh Khurana and others. 

For those who are not aware of who Zoon is, here’s the story. The year is 1570. Yousuf Shah Chak, the warrior king of Kashmir captivated by a peasant girl, falls in love with the beauty of her voice and the richness of her rhyme. She is Zoon. They marry against all odds. Their love, destined to be short lived, is thwarted by jealous Akbar, the great emperor. Renamed Habba Khatoun, she goes on to become the legendary last poet queen of Kashmir. 

Shedding light on the idea behind this play, Purva Naresh, says, “It’s been a difficult journey so far. It’s a difficult play to mount, produce, and put together because it’s a story across centuries and the vision requires some guts to dream, imagine and bring to life. For Kashmiris, Habba Khatoun is a poet who lives on in their hearts, till today. They sing her songs on all occasions. They still perform her story and lament her pain. Her separation from Yusuf reminds them of their pain of losing the loved ones to exile or disappearance.”

“She is every woman of Kashmir. Her pain is their pain. Pain always finds an echo if it’s real. It’s the thing that connects us all,” she adds.

The writer-director was travelling through Kashmir earlier this year and many people asked her to tell this tale. “Initially, I saw no reason as to why I should tell this story instead of all the others I could, until one day I was asked what an artist was to do in such tumultuous times. The story of this strong-willed poetess of Kashmir, Zoon, pierced through the darkness like a shaft of moonlight (which also happens to be the meaning of her name).”

Does it make a difference to the tale because it is being directed and acted by a cast of “mainstream” Indian actors and director? Will the audience perceive it differently? Purva replies, “We have stylised the play because there is no way we can tell that story the Kashmiri way, especially when there is no communication going. So we are re-telling the tale and stylising it to make it contemporary and relevant.”

Art and socio-political issues always go hand in hand, each mirroring the truth, filtered or otherwise. When asked what’s the role of art in conflicts and how are the drama groups, literary circles in the region responding to this period, Purva points out, “Artists show resilience. And in times of conflict, they give hope. They lead by example. They keep the morale going and above all... they keep the truth alive. In dire times, they sing songs of darkness and keep the humanity alive.”

With live singing, backed by classical musicians and music composed by artists in Srinagar, Zoon — Noor Kashmir Ka has been set against beautiful, rich scenery. Talking about the compositions, Purva says, “They are authentic and very nostalgic. They remind us of old film songs. Russian folk at times and Afghani rhythms too. The scales are so high that the actors are having a bit of a tough time. But in the end, it’s all very enriching and beautiful.”

ST READER SERVICE
Zoon — Noor Kashmir Ka will be held at Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA Mumbai on Nov 16 and 17. Tickets are available on Insider and Paytm

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com