V M BADOLA ABOUT 'DARA SHIKOH"

Dreamer-at-large

It was a pleasant surprise learning that Danish Iqbal, a friend of many years, had written a play based on the life of Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Muoghal Emperor Shah Jehan. Personally, I have always been an ardent admirer of Dara, not only for his scholarship and catholicity, but also for the vision he held for India. But, then, that is another story……………
Another heartening news was that M.S.Sathyu, an old friend and a known film director and theatreperson, was going to direct it. And it transpired later that both Sathyu and Danish would want me to be in the play to essay the role of Sufi Abhay Chand, the philosophical mentor of Dara Shikoh! I must confess my first reaction was not very enthusiastic. But, as things turned out, I allowed myself to be persuaded to do it.
Dara Shikoh is an intelligently crafted script and has a strong imprint of Danish Iqbal’s long stint with Radio. To truly translate it into a theatrical attire, it was hard work for the director, but more so for the actors. But it was a truly exciting
experience because all this artistic transformation needed a cerebral exercise, both from the director as well as the director. And that is what makes Danish’s script a truly interesting work. Besides, it has a beautiful diction which, apart from being a delight for the actors to render, makes the times of Shah Jehan’s last years come truly alive to us. Dara Shikoh is a timely work in today’s context when India is passing through the phase of communal distrust. I feel if Dara had been allowed to become the Emperor of India after Shah Jehan, our history would be different today.
The play is now being presented by a different set of actors, partly because some of us have had to bow out due to various reasons and partly because of the sad demise of Mohammed Ayub who succumbed to a terminal ailment earlier this year. Ayub Bhai lent a brilliant sheen to the play with his powerful portrayal of two roles.