Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Hindustan Times (Lucknow) - Live
CURTAINS FALL ON LIT FEST
pna toh ussool hai ... pehle laat, phir baat, uske baad mulaqat.’ We’ve seen the ‘Tiranga’ star Nana Patekar as someone with a hot temper on screen. But, on the concluding day of the three-day Metaphor Festival, instead of the star, Lucknowites got to meet Vishwanath Patekar (Nana’s birth name), a farmer.
In an hour-long conversation ‘Azaad Parinde’ with actor-writer Atul Tiwari, the charismatic actor talked tough on the recent rape cases. “There can’t be anything more disgusting than the recent Unnao and Hyderabad murderrape cases. I feel bad when I visit abroad and people tell me ‘India mein yeh sab hota hai’ (all this happens only in India). We need to take initiative as we can’t depend on the government for everything. Parents should inculcate the right values in their children from the very beginning.”
Supporting the ‘encounter’ of the four accused in the Hyderabad murder-rape case, Nana said, “Whatever happened was right. If they were involved in this heinous crime, they would have been punished some or the other day, if not that day.”
Bring out a slice from his life he said, “My siblings are good looking and as a child I felt that is why my parents loved them more. So, I got into acting so that I can get my parents’ praise and attention.”
What make him an angry man? “I was born in a poor family. I chose aggression to save myself from being made fun of or being commented upon by the other person. This authority made me feel powerful. Acting helps me vent out the anger and express myself.”
He is known for talking on farmers rights. “I try to spread awareness about their rights and about better agriculture techniques amongst them. This keeps me grounded to my roots. I strong believe that Human Rights Commission should raise their voices when farmers commit suicide.”
DOCS AS POETS!
The festival also saw a group of doctors from King George’s Medical University, known as ‘Soul Cushions’, reciting romantic poetry. Lead by cardiologist Dr Rishi Sethi those recited their poetry were Varun, Rukshar, Praveen, Akhilesh, Kritika, Maheem, Nishitha, Ekagratha and Harendra.
SHAKESPEARE WALLAH
Producer-director and composer Vishal Bharadwaj was in conversation with Surabhi Modi during the session ‘Shakespeare Wallah’. Bharadwaj talked about the thesis written by Modi on his Shakespearean adaptations
ALL IN THE FAMILY
A family conversation was staged on the last day of the fest. It turned out to be a healthy conversation between the three members of a family who are all attached with film, theatre and plays — writer Javed Siddiqui, his daughter-actor Lubna Salim and son-inlaw Salim Arif, a theatre personality.
Some very interesting inside family talks were coming out but Javed Siddiqui told his son-inlaw to choose questions very carefully as he thinks, “ghar ki baat kabhi char diwaro se bahar nahi nikalna chahiye.” Talking about the good side of the family effect when they work together Lubna told that, “It’s very helpful because my father is the worst critic of mine. We understand each other very well so when we work together it remains open to suggestions and we can contribute our ideas freely”
which is now going to be converted into a book.
Talking about replacing the three witches in Macbeth to police officers in Maqbool, he said, “According to me, cops can make the best witches in our country. We have seen this three days ago (referring to the Hyderabad murder-rape case).” Bharadwaj ended the session by singing ‘Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji’ and sharing extracts from his Urdu poetry book ‘Nude’.
BATTLE OF PANCHAVATI
The Lucknow launch of the latest mythological book to hit the Indian book market, ‘The Battle of Panchavati’ was done during the fest. The book has been authored by Dr Divya Narain Upadhyaya, additional professor of Plastic Surgery at King George’s Medical University, Lucknow. The book was launched at the festival by lyricst Irshad Kamil and journalist Rahul Dev. Later, a book reading and book discussion session was also held which was moderated by Shubra Mittal, where Dr Upadhyaya read out excerpts from his book and answered queries from the moderator as well as the audience.
BEGUM OF AWADH
The writer of ‘Awadh in revolt 1857-1858,’ Rudrangshu Mukherjee described the historic story of the bravery of Begum Hazrat Mahal in a conversation with Wajahat Habibullah.
From Mukherjee words, it is clear how the East India Company took away the rights of the common citizen of India and somehow this turned to become the prime reason for the most remarkable resistance. Talking about Begum Hazrat Mahal who is also known as ‘Begum of Awadh’ he said, “She wasn’t the queen, she was the representative of the common people of Awadh and the revolt was by the common people of Awadh.”
In another session, journalist Geeta Shree came up with some very fine topics about ‘Ek Desh Ek Bhasa. Lyricist Dr Irshad Kamil said, “You can’t survive in Bollywood by only knowing one language.” The fest was organised by Lucknow Expression Society.