The early influences of Parsi Theater on the film scene today… The dominance of Urdu has a lot to do with the origins of the film industry in Bombay. There were roughly two major influences — the first influence was from Bengal. Movies made under The New Theatre seemed more like Bengali movies with Hindi… Continue reading The Influence of Early Parsi Theater
Category: Theater
Playwright Meher Pestonji: Feeding Crows
The small Parsi community has often presented a universal picture, albeit with the help of Parsi writers. The latest voice to join this force belongs to Meher Pestonji. This Mumbai-based writer’s play Feeding Crows has emerged as the runner-up of BBC’s International Radio Playwriting Competition and the winner for the South Asia segment. “I came… Continue reading Playwright Meher Pestonji: Feeding Crows
Tales from Firozsha Baag now a play in New Zealand
Indian Newslink from NZ reports A play around migration and its conflicts is at the heart of an ambitious new project of the Auckland based theatre group Prayas. Following the success of its earlier productions including Charan Das Chor by Habib Tanvir, and The Terrace by Madhu Rye, the group decided to write and stage… Continue reading Tales from Firozsha Baag now a play in New Zealand
Sohrab Wadia: Jihad The Musical
Sorab Wadia sings the part of Hussein Al Mansour in the Edinburgh Fringe Production of JIHAD THE MUSICAL. Costumes by Deb O. Choreography by Bethany Samuelson. See www.jihad-the-musical.com for more information about the production.
Gustadji Ghode Chadhya
Surprise is the spice of drama. “Don’t think Gustadji is going to ride a horse in the play as a groom,” director of Gustadji Ghode Chadhya’ Yazdi Karanjia tells the audience, “one rides different kinds of horses. The one Gustadji rides is his jidd’ (stubbornness).” The two and a half hour long play gave a… Continue reading Gustadji Ghode Chadhya
Nazneen Contractor’s long, strange trip to ‘The Border’
As customs agent Layla Hourani on “The Border” — which airs Mondays on CBC Television — Nazneen Contractor is almost a genre of one. Hourani defies both the Western stereotype of the submissive Muslim woman and the Muslim stereotype of the fast, loose Western female. “Layla is someone who is assimilated and entrenched but still… Continue reading Nazneen Contractor’s long, strange trip to ‘The Border’
Gieve Patel: Mister Behram
Mister Behram and Other Plays puts the spotlight on Gieve Patel, the dramatist Decades have passed since the talented cast and crew of Princes, Savaksa and Mister Behram took a bow. Their stage run might come to a halt, but their life on the shelf has just begun. The three plays, written by Gieve Patel,… Continue reading Gieve Patel: Mister Behram
Avesthagen and Mallika Sarabhai present “And They Came to India”
Avesthagen Limited, India’s leading Life Sciences Company brings to you, in association with Mallika Sarabhai and Darpana, an original dance theatre performance celebrating the historic journey of the Parsis titled “And They Came To India”. Of the many different people who have migrated to India over the centuries, one group that stands out for its… Continue reading Avesthagen and Mallika Sarabhai present “And They Came to India”
A regrettable concession to fanaticism
In light of the recent furore in Bombay over the Jaya Bacchan remarks, here is a nice piece on Adi Marzban and the parsi nataks of yore. Of what utility is the fundamental right of free speech if in reality there is no freedom after speech? The same disturbing trend is discernible in the furious… Continue reading A regrettable concession to fanaticism
