JOIN USIt was a packed house at the Alliance Francaise as the regular ‘Dance DISCourse’, organised by Ashish Mohan Khokhar, was held. This time, the discourse consisted of a presentation dance called Kathak Ki Kahani — Mujre Ki Zubani.
As the title suggested, the event was a kathak presentation with a difference. The talented kathak dancers from Nadam Ensemble took the stage and held everyone captivated with their beautiful movements.
They presented the sad yet touching story of a girl named Sanam and the different stages of her life. Penned by Urdu poet and painter Tilak Raj Tilak, a resident of the City, this poignant tale showcased the childhood, youth and old age of Sanam in a beautiful way. From youth to old age, the highs and lows of her life were portrayed using the poems of the poet.
Prior to the beginning of the show, Tilak Raj Tilak was honoured and it was a doubly special occasion as it was his 80th birthday as well. “I have been connected to the Mumbai film industry for 20 years now. Later, I started writing ghazals. Kathak Ki Kahani — Mujre Ki Zubani is all about the experiences of a tawaif (courtesan). I wrote this story by actually feeling the different experiences of a tawaif’s life,” he said.
Chiranjiv Singh, the president of Alliance Française, thanked Tilak for coming up with an event like this. “This is a wonderful birthday present to Tilak saab as he turns 80 today,” he exclaimed.
As the dance started, a young Sanam was shown playing games with her friends.
But then she is forced to learn dance by her mother. As she grows into a young beautiful woman, Sanam was shown dancing with fellow courtesans.
With some wonderful footwork, the dancers danced to a song called Ek Shaam Hui, Ek Raat Dhali. Their tap work during this song was highly appreciated by the audience. Later, the old age of Sanam, in which she is lonely and sad, was depicted. The show was enjoyed by everyone present. “I really loved the grace and coordination of the dancers. It was also interesting to see the dance being explained so well. This made it easier for everyone to understand the piece,” said Kalpana, a member of the audience.
Over all, the show portrayed how the terms tawaif and mujra have always been interconnected and how tawaifs are also the children of the society.