About

JASHN-E-QALAM: StoryPlay

Jashn-E-Qalam is a Mumbai-based collective of professional actors, who celebrate the beauty & brilliance of Hindustani Literature with Solo Performances of Short Stories. The multiple roles of the 'Narrator' and various 'Characters' are enacted by the 'Storyteller', making full use of 'Voice' & 'Body' without relying on 'Sets', Props' or 'Costumes'. They are creating an exciting space for 'Literature as Entertainment', beyond the 'Blue Screens & Black Mirrors'; truly Alive and Human at its core!

Vicky Ahuja has worked in more than 25 plays across India, with well known directors such as Makarand Deshpande & Ashok Purang. His film credits include Bhagat Singh, Veer Zaara, Raaz 2, 1920 Evil Returns & Firaaq. In Television, he has appeared in shows like Daayan - & TV, Meri Durga - Star TV, Crime Patrol - SONY, CID - SONY, Woh - Zee Tv & Hip Hip Hurray - Zee Tv.

KC Shankar has been with 'The Phoenix Players', an acclaimed English Theatre company under the guidance of thespians - Salim Ghouse & Anita Salim since 2009. His prominent screen work include: Typewriter (Netflix/Hindi), Music Teacher (Netflix/Hindi), Heropanti (Film/Hindi), Samrajyam 2 (Film/Malayalam), Rebel (Film/Telugu), Aata (Film/Kannada), Virudhagiri (Film/Tamil), Santoshi Maa (&TV), Jamai Raja (ZEE TV), Siyaasat (EPIC) & Word-Match (ZEEQ).

Experience Kabir through the folktales of Vijaydan Detha

Duration: 60 Mins | Language: Hindustani

Celebrate the complexity & richness of Kabir through the wit & wisdom of the inimitable folklorist, Vijaydan Detha. Storytellers from the collective, Jashn-E-Qalam will bring alive two timeless folktales with their enchanting solo performances. This is theatre at its simplest and purest, where Story is King & Imagination reigns Supreme!

About the stories

FITRATI CHOR | Enacted by Vicky Ahuja

In a world built on lies and made by hypocrites, a natural born thief must pay the price for his truth and integrity!

DUJO KABIR | Enacted by KC Shankar

We revere Kabir, The Mystic. Now meet The Artist as he faces the eternal choices of Money, Fame, Power & Love.

About the Writer

Vijaydan Detha (1 September 1926 – 10 November 2013) gave a new life to the Rajasthani language by translating oral folklore to the written and transforming it richly in the process. He is a recipient of many awards such as the Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award and Sahitya Chudamani Award. He has more than 800 short stories to his credit, which have been translated into English and other languages. He is co-founder of the Rupayan Sansthan, with the late Komal Kothari – an institute that documents Rajasthani folklore, arts and music. His literary works include Bataan ri Phulwari, a fourteen volume collection of folktales. His writings have seen numerous screen and stage adaptions including Habib Tanvir's Charandas Chor, Prakash Jha's Parinati, Amol Palekar's Paheli, and Mani Kaul’s Duvidha.