About the show
Kaifi Aur Main is a celebration of renowned Urdu poet and film lyricist Kaifi Azmi's life and works seen through the eyes of his wife, noted theatre and film actress, Shaukat Kaifi, brought to life by his daughter Shabana Azmi and son-in-law Javed Akhtar.
Kaifi Aur Main is a theatrical collage based on the reminiscences of Kaifi and Shaukat. Scripted by Javed Akhtar, the narrative traces Kaifi and Shaukat’s journey of life from his childhood in Mijwan…their unusual romance culminating in a marriage that lasted 55 years… life in Bombay in the 50s...the Progressive Writer’s Movement… Kaifi’s social and cultural activism...his path-breaking work as a lyricist in Hindi cinema... his fight against life-threatening illness...and their relentless fight to make Mijwan a place of progress... Kaifi Aur Main is also a celebration of Kaifi Azmi’s poetry and his unparalleled contribution to Indian Cinema.
Kaifi Azmi’s recollections are brought to life by Javed Akhtar and are interwoven by Shabana Azmi with the memories of her mother Shaukat Kaifi, whose impressions make the narrative ‘a heart-warming account that rises above the personal to document the politics of an era in a distinctly female voice’.
In their inimitable style, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar take us through a very personal journey and share moments that will be cherished for many a lifetime.
The sensitive and touching narrative written by Javed Akhtar is based on Shaukat Kaifi's book of memoirs Yaad Ki Rehguzar as well as on Kaifi Azmi's interviews and writings.
The narrative is interspersed with renditions of Kaifi's poems and songs by the young singer Jaswinder Singh and supported by a live orchestra.
Kaifi Aur Main is a tribute to Kaifi Azmi, his poetry, work, life and most of all his unending courage.
The journey so far….
Kaifi Aur Main premiered in Mumbai in 2006 on the 4th death anniversary of Kaifi Azmi. This theatrical collage has received standing ovations and rave reviews in India and across the world. In Nov-Dec 2006, 14 shows of this production were staged in USA-Canada-UK in cities like New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto, London and others. It has also been staged in Mumbai, Delhi, Ludhiana, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Dubai.
The unique form of this production has won over audiences not just across borders but also across different classes and age-groups. At one level it is a heart-warming love story between two individuals from very different backgrounds. On the other hand it is the journey of a poet whose work has inspired generations of Indians. Music, poetry, drama, romance, humour, pathos and triumph of the human spirit make it universally appealing to the music connoisseur as well as the theatre enthusiast.
Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, seen together for the first time on stage in this show, have charmed audiences and left them craving for more. Critical acclaim and appreciation has come from artists, writers, directors, connoisseurs, journalists and the audience at large.
Legendary poet, writer and activist, Kaifi Sahab was an integral part of IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Association). As President of IPTA he was actively involved in its administration and organisation till his last days. He inspired, cajoled and led a whole generation of theatre enthusiasts to make theatre relevant in today's times. His energy and enthusiasm was unbelievable, for he insisted in giving everything 100%. To those who didn't know him, it was difficult to believe that he had suffered from a severe stroke almost thirty years ago. But this did not deter him from striving to strengthen IPTA or single-handedly trying to transform and upgrade his native village, Mijwan in Azamgarh U.P.
Kaifi Azmi went down fighting till the last for all the causes which he fiercely supported in his life, in his work and in his art.
IPTA premiered its theatrical collage in memory of Kaifi Azmi on his 4th death anniversary in 2006. A year later, we dedicate this performance to Kaifi Sahab with the hope that we can follow his progressive philosophy and work towards a better tomorrow for our great nation.
