Kabuliwala returns with his big bag of goodies

The cult character created by Rabindranath Tagore and immortalised by Balraj Sahni is coming back on stage this summer, in two avatars

Kabuliwala returns with his big bag of goodies

The cult character created by Rabindranath Tagore and immortalised by Balraj Sahni is coming back on stage this summer, in two avatars

Most of us share some connect with Rabindranath Tagore's legendary character, Kabuliwala. Some read about the endearing street vendor from Afghanistan as part of the syllabus in school, while for a few Kabuliwala was the desi equivalent of Santa Claus, what with the 'magic wand' in his jholi (bag). Even today, critics warn audiences to keep a box of tissues handy while watching the 1961 movie. How can one not get emotional when listening to Manna Dey hum the words Aye Mere Pyaare Vatan or watch the scene where Balraj Sahni prays for Mini's recovery?u00a0 This summer, give your little one a crash course in Indian literature and cinema at one go with Indian People's Theatre Association's (IPTA) Kabuliwala, which premieres today as part of Summertime At Prithvi.
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Nostalgia Strikes
IPTA's Ramesh Talwar decided to work on the play when Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Bimal Roy's (who had produced the 1961 classic) daughter, suggested they adapt Kabuliwala for the stage since this year also happens to be Tagore's 150th birth centenary. Moreover, Talwar, who had worked as a child actor with Sahni back in 1959 remembered that the actor had also staged a couple of shows of Kabuliwala before the film was released. "Kabuliwala was performed at Balrajji's daughter's school where he first saw it. A professor at the school had adapted the play and Balrajji had liked it a lot. So, he worked with that script but the play did not have a long run," recalls Talwar.

The play is based on Tagore's short story, which was the basis for the film. But since proper scenes were written out for the film, Talwar draws inspiration from the screenplay, as well. "In the film, the young girl, who is portrayed as a chatterbox, has too many dialogues. But to expect an eight year-old to remember so many dialogues for a play is impossible," explains Talwar, adding that the children's play is about an hour long. Plus, Rinki Roy Bhattacharya has also granted the group permission to use the film's songs, so the play will include the chirpy Kabuliwala Aaya and the haunting melodiesu00a0-- Ganga Aaye Kahan Se and Aye Mere Pyaare Vatan.

Kabuliwala Laut Aaya
Apart from the children's play, IPTA is also working on another play, which is a take off from the same short story. Pakistani writer Zaheeda Hina's Kabuliwala Laut Aaya is based on present-day Afghan-istan where her protagonist works as a doctor. Kabuliwala Laut Aaya, which will see actress Tanvi Azmi on stage after a long time, will premiere on May 7 at NCPA's Hindi Theatre Festival, Ananda. In the contemporary version of the story, the young girl from Tagore's story is the doctor's grandmother and the play is based on the correspondence between the two. "The material is very dark and moving. In the new version,u00a0 the large-hearted Kabuliwala from the beginning of the 20th century is juxtaposed against Afghanistan and the Taliban of the 21st century," shares Talwar.

While Kabuliwala Laut Aaya will include the original (children's) version as the first half and Hina's version as the second, the play titled Kabuliwala will have only the version suitable for children. "The show has been designed such that the two parts of the play can be combined for a mature audience, while only the original story can be enacted for the children as well," explains Talwar.

Kabuliwala premieres today at 11 am and 4 pm at Prithvi Theatre, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Vile Parle (W). Call: 26149546. Also, catch the play at Horniman Circle on May 1, 8 pm.
Kabuliwala Laut Aaya premieres on May 7, 6 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. Call: 22824567

Kabuliwala Trivia
>> The Bengali version of Kabuliwala won the President's Gold Medal for the Best Film for the year 1956 and inspired the Hindi remake five years later.
>>u00a0Sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar won the prestigious Silver Bear at the 1957 Berlin Film Festival for his music in the Bengali version of Kabuliwala.
>> Director Hemen Gupta opted for Balraj Sahni, who looked a Kabuliwala, due to his Lahore upbringing.
>> The young girl who played Mini in the Bengali Kabuliwala was Tinku Thakur, Sharmila Tagore's younger sister.
>> Several people associated with the film have also been associated with IPTA. Bimal Roy was IPTA's president. Salil Choudhary, the music director, Hemant Gupta, the director, Prem Dhawan and Gulzar, the lyricists, Manna Dey and Balraj Sahni were all associated with IPTA in some capacity or the other.