Renowned actors Shabana Azmi and Farooque Shaikh will be coming from Bombay to put up the play "Tumhari Amrita" in Kathmandu on 16 September, 2009. The event is being organized as a fund-raiser for the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC) in Kavre, and the organizers hope that it will be an addition to the growing theatre movement in Kathmandu.
"Tumhari Amrita" was written by Javed Siddiqui and directed by Feroz Abbas Khan, a well-known theatre personality in India. The play is a love story told in a unique format, unfolding in a series of letters written over 35 years between Amrita, played by Azmi, and Zulfi, played by Shaikh.
Azmi and Shaikh sit on a simple stage behind two desks and a stack of letters between them. Beginning in 1940 with an invitation to Amrita's 8th birthday party, the two friends come closer against the backdrop of India's tumultuous modern history - from Independence and Partition in 1947 to the Emergency of 1975-77, and subsequent events. The letters between the two are marked by great wit, humor, debate and sorrow.
Amrita and Zulfi evolve into different, complex personalities - Zulfi is a politician in their native Lucknow, while Amrita becomes an artist and who travels Europe and returns to India emotionally unstable. Their bond remains strong throughout until the play reaches its tragic ending.
"We look forward to playing before the Kathmandu audience, where I believe the theatre world has advanced greatly in recent years. I am also happy to be putting up a play whose proceeds will go to further the rehabilitation of the victims of spinally injured," says Shabana Azmi.
Kanak Mani Dixit, chairperson of SIRC, says, "We are proud to showcase Shabana Azmi and Farooque Shaikh in Kathmandu, and thank the BPKF foundation for helping to make this unique event possible.”
The proceeds of “Tumhari Amrita” will go towards building 'halfway homes' for the patients at SIRC. These facilities are meant to help patients readjust to the move back to their homes after the rehabilitation phase.
The play will take place at the Kamalmani Theatre, Patan Dhoka on 16 September, 2009 at 6pm.
For further details: Ms. Ojashwi Thami infosirc@wlink.com.np
Tel: 977-11-660847/8 www.sirc.org.np
The tickets are priced at Rs. 3000 and Rs. 2000, and will be available from 31 August, 2009 onwards at:
Dhokaima Cafe, Patan Dhoka, 5522113 and
Madhu Shrestha, Jyoti Bhawan, Kantipath, 4252665