16 April,2011 08:40 AM IST | | Aditi Sharma
Ahmedabad-based theatre group Acktor's Theatre will unravel the late poet Amrita Pritam's life and love story in Main Tenu Phir Milangi, which premieres in the city, this evening
In the poem Main Tenu Milangi (I will meet you yet again), the late poet Amrita Pritam makes a promise to her life partner Imroz: that even after her body perishes, she will pick up 'the threads of memory' and meet him again. The poem is one of the best expressions of love ever penned.
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A still from Main Tenu Phir Milangi in which actress Megha Vyas plays the role of Amrita Pritam
So, it is only fitting that actor-director Abhinay Banker would choose the same words as the title for his play, which is largely based on the Amrita-Imroz love story.
The play takes the audience through the major events that shaped the life of the multi award-winning literary figure, who passed away on October 31, 2005.
Although two other men ex-husband Pritam Singh and poet Sahir Ludhianvi also played their part in Amrita's life, Main Tenu Phir Milangi largely focuses on her relationship with Imroz.
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This is because Banker believes the most crucial phase of Amrita's life began after she met the artist-writer, with whom she would spend the last four decades of her life.
Imroz and Amrita never married, deciding to live together despite opposition from a conservative society. "Almost everybody severed ties with her; nobody wanted to meet her. When she received the Jnanpith Award, the writer Suresh Dalal had organised a function in Mumbai to felicitate her.
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While all the big literary names were present, no one from the Punjabi literary circle showed up. She was really hurt by the incident," says Banker, referring to the woman who is hailed as being the first Punjabi poet of prominence.
For the script, Banker drew from the book Amrita Imroz: A Love Story by Uma Trilok, which is based on the conversation between the two even as the poet's health deteriorates.
Then there was Rasidi Ticket and Aksharon Ke Saaye, the two autobiographies written by Amrita. Yet, the play is not based on any one literary piece, explains Banker.
"It is based on Amritaji's books, her poems, as well as poems by Imrozji and Sahir Ludhianvi, which are played on the gramophone during the show. In addition to the writings, the play also includes incidents that Imrozji related when we met him," explains Banker, who spent two years writing the play.
Banker and Megha Vyas (the actress who plays Amrita Pritam) also met Imroz at his Delhi residence to better understand their relationship. During the time, they saw the poet's room and the desk where she wrote most of her later works. Imroz also showed them the portraits of Amrita made by him.
"We spoke with Imrozji for 12 hours at a stretch, with just a few cups of chai thrown in. Throughout the conversation, he never used the past tense while referring to her.
It was as if she lives on for him. After some time, even I felt as if she were perhaps busy writing in her room while we chatted away," says Banker, adding that he hopes to recreate the same energy at tonight's performance.
On Today, 7 pm at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point. Call 22824567
Tickets Rs 300, Rs 250 and Rs 200
