Safdar Hashmi was a playwright and director, best known for his work with stirring political street theatre. In fact, he was killed on January 1,1989 while performing the street play, Halla Bol (Raise Your Voice!) by a gang of political goons. Three days later, his wife Moloyshree went with Hashmi’s Janam troupe to the location of the murder, and in a singular act of bravery, completed the performance.
Literature Live! will launch a book on his life, appropriately titled Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi by Sudhanva Deshpande, on Thursday, March 5 at 6.30 PM at NCPA’s Experimental Theatre. At the launch, Sameera Iyengar will be in conversation with Naseeruddin Shah, Moloyashree Hashmi and the author. There will also be a presentation of Jana Natya Manch’s classic play Machine.
Seating, as usual, is on a first come, first served basis, so do come early.