The 'Poetrification' of Hindi and Urdu poetry

Adil Manuel (centre) strums along as Danish Husain (left) and Denzil Smith recite the verses during a rehearsal

It will be a culmination of two languages - English and Urdu - interspersed with music, at a one-of-a-kind poetry act to be staged at Cuckoo Club today. Titled Poetrification, this event will have some fine poetry in these two languages come to life in the robust voices of Denzil Smith and Danish Husain. While Smith has chosen from the works of modern English poets like Dom Moraes, Jeet Thayil, Adil Jussawala and Vijay Nambisan, to name a few, Husain will be reciting the works of Ghalib, Noon Meem Rashed, Faiz and more.

"This is an attempt to make poetry accessible and interesting. We will also do impromptu performances, as poetry leaves a lot of room for innovation," says theatre and film actor Denzil. Husain, poet and actor, says, "This is the first time I am collaborating with Denzil, had been wanting to for long. I find the poetry recitation nowadays lacking in some ways. Poetry shouldn't be recited, it needs to become a natural expression. Denzil has the kind of voice quality that can lift a poem." Elaborating on the concept, Husain adds, "We are curating poetry. This is a great platform to get people acquainted with these works, without having to actually read them. And if they like it, who knows, they might actually want to read the text."

Adil Manuel has composed the music for Poetrification and experimenting with music is a first time for Husain. "I am not very musically oriented, so it will be interesting to see how this works. Music is a way of sweetening the experience, because poetry can get dense at sometimes. There's a certain relief in music."