Ghalib story

Ghalib in New Delhi
When the weather becomes unexpectedly pleasant in Delhi, an outstation student, like me, is bound to feel like some enjoyment. Just so on one of the recent Sundays… I checked up online for day’s activities in Delhi.
‘Pierrot’s troupe, an amateur drama group presents, ‘Ghalib in New Delhi’, the most brilliant comedy in recent times. Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib takes rebirth at ISBT with beard and moustache. He is instantly recognized. Well! As Laden’s Chacha, asli Saddam, Bhishm Pitamah, metro ka naya driver imported directly from Japan…and lots more. Watch out the transformation of Mirza’s Delhi into Manmohan’s Delhi in this contemporarily historic play.’
“Hmmm. Just what I need for the day”, I told myself and booked a ticket instantly. 7:30 pm, sitting in the first row in the auditorium, I had my eyes glued to the stage expectantly. The lights around dimmed.
‘Diri diri yay yeyyyyyy’, the loud screeching voice of a pot-bellied paan-waala throws the comfortably seated Mirza Ghalib (performed brilliantly by Digambar Prasad) off-balance. Then, a conversation follows between the two, where Ghalib’s innocent queries receive rib-tickling replies from paan-waala. Next is the scene at railway station. It is clarified that Mirza Ghalib, the great erstwhile Urdu poet, has decided to visit his beloved ‘Dehli’, ironically Delhi now. It’s too chaotic, but gives a good impression of how lost Ghalib is feeling in the suspicious and selfish outlook of people. The dialogues are refreshing for their sheer simplicity and humour. The show goes on while the audience remains stuck to seats. The get-up and dialogue delivery of protagonist not only caters to your funny bone but, at an unconscious level, also force one to dwell on the meaningfulness missing in present day.

Ghalib strives against an omnipotent identity crisis, beginning with the occupants of his haveli mistaking him as Ghalib’s ‘Jinn’. This forces him to stay with a Bihari boy, Jai Hind (performed expressively by Harish Chhabra), a Delhi University student, in a servant quarter. His confidence is further shattered when Jai Hind and his landlady Mrs. Chaddha recognize his worth only through the voice of Jagjit Singh, and the screen portrayal of Naseeruddin Shah. However, persuaded by the duo and in desperate need of recognition, Ghalib decides to ‘sell’ himself. Wishful to witness his posthumous fame, something that was quite elusive in his lifetime, he is encouraged by an ever-hyper Mrs. Chaddha to call for a press conference. It turns out to be a damp squib with the journalists interested in nothing more than post-conference snacks. Ghalib then opts for an advertising agency to perpetuate his presence in the minds of the people. This is ensued by a fast and funny series of events which pose serious questions about today’s stagnating moral values.

The last half hour of the show is indeed very engrossing, but, the drastic and hilarious three minutes last scene makes you clap forcefully hard. Since revealing the end would be a grave injustice to play organizers, it’s left for you to go and find out yourself, whenever the chance presents itself. It’s a worth-watch.

A complete justice to the weather on Sunday…