July
2003
Layla Majnun
Written by Harmage
Singh Kalirai, director |
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Majnun |
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Layla
Majnun is the sub-continent equivalent of 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Director Harmage Singh Kalirai talks about the story and his involvement
with the production. |
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Layla
Majnun is the last part of a trilogy of love stories that I wanted
to adapt for large-scale outdoor production and which could provide
ample opportunity for live music, song, dance, drama, storytelling
and poetry.
The aim has been to bring together artists from the local community
to work alongside professional artists in order to produce these beautiful
epic and legendary stories. 听
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Majnun |
The
trilogy
The first tale was Sohni Mahiwal, performed on the River Thames and
the courtyard of The Waterman鈥檚 Arts Centre, London during the summer
of 1994.
The second story Heer Ranjha was produced in the courtyard and the
Arena Theatre at Mac听 in the summer of 1997. 听
These stories have universal appeal and are known throughout the sub-continent
as kind of 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥 tales.
The ingredients are similar in their tragedies, in the destinies of
the lovers and the parents鈥 insistence to keep them apart.
This trilogy of love stories is universally known and loved by Hindus,
Sikhs and Muslims. 听
Layla
Manjun
Layla Majnun is one of the love romances of Iranian source that had
infiltrated and become assimilated into Punjabi literature and came
to be owned by the Punjabis. It is the favourite love story of the
Muslim world.
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Majnun |
The story
pre-dates Shakespeare鈥檚 Romeo and Juliet and centres on the undying
quest of love.
There are many versions of this epic story, some taking different
threads and emphases including Arabic, Persian, Indian, Turkish and
Russian versions from the 7th to the 21st centuries.
The Persian poet Nizami was the first to make use of all the traditional
versions, widely dispersed and greatly varied in detail, which he
shaped into one great narrative poem around AD 1188. 听
Developing South Asian Arts
My interest has always been in the development of South Asian Arts
and in combining these art forms to compliment each other, within
a framework of traditional epic stories containing myths and legends.
I also wanted to create entertainment for our community, introducing
live theatre to an audience brought up on Bollywood culture. 听
A lot of planning and organization has taken place in the conception
of this project.
Many people have been involved in front of and behind the production,
and their skills have been invaluable to the success of this piece.
I would like to thank each and every one, including the parents, for
the huge commitment, time, effort and the support to make this production
work. 听
As it is said at the end of the play 鈥溾hat was mine is now yours...鈥
听 鈥nd so it is. 听
Harmage Singh Kalirai.
Layla Majnun is showing from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th July and
Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July 2003, at The Arena, Mac.
If you go along, why not send in a review. Just e-mail the team at:
birmingham@bbc.co.uk
For
more on Sampad - South Asian arts, click
here.
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