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  • SEMAL KA PED
    SEMAL KA PED
    Fri, 04 Sept
    A father struggling with the death of his young daughter confronts the man responsible: a stage hypnotist. Their meeting sparks an unexpected exploration of grief, accountability, and the possibility of transformation. For ages 18+
  • Hawa Mahal
    Hawa Mahal
    Sat, 12 Sept
    An ensemble play about survival, dignity, dreams—and the uncomfortable collision between the world that is seen and the world that is deliberately kept invisible. | Bargad ka Chabutra Production Grant 2025 | Languages: Hindi and English | For ages 18+

Dastan-e-Akhtari - Yusra Naqvi & Kafeel Jafri

Storyteller Kafeel Jafri and vocalist Yusra Naqvi blended Dastangoi and live music to retrace Begum Akhtar's journey - her struggles, friendships, and triumphs - offering a portrait of the artist as a woman who sang her way to dignity.

28 November 2025

In Dastan-e-Akhtari, theatre artist and storyteller Kafeel Jafri joined vocalist Yusra Naqvi to bring alive the extraordinary life of ghazal icon Begum Akhtar, tracing her rise from the margins of a courtesan household to the heights of Hindustani classical music.

A Dastangoi-style performance blending narrative and live music, the piece unfolded through spoken word, song, and anecdotes. Yusra's renditions of Begum Akhtar's ghazals, thumris, and dadras punctuated Kafeel's narration, creating a seamless weave of story and sur. The performance was accompanied by live tabla, harmonium and sarangi.

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