PODCAST · arts
The Halla Bol Podcast
by Sudhanva Deshpande
Artist and activist Safdar Hashmi's short and rich life is narrated by Sudhanva Deshpande from his book, Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi. The podcast features guest actors, archival interviews and rare recordings, of even Safdar's own voice. It was a killing that shocked a nation. On January 1, 1989, the Delhi-based theatre group Jana Natya Manch (Janam) was attacked by political goons while performing its street play Halla Bol. Two people were killed in this attack — a young migrant worker from Nepal, Ram Bahadur, and Janam's charismatic leader, the playwright-actor-director-lyricist Safdar Hashmi. Less than 48 hours after Safdar's death, Janam returned to the scene of the killing and completed the interrupted play — led by Moloyashree, actor, theatre activist and Safdar's wife. In his death, Safdar became an icon — for freedom of expression, for standing up to oppression, for the right to dissent. हल्ला बोल: सफ़दर हाश्मी की मौत और ज़िंदगी is a boo
Episodes
-
Halla Bol | Bonus Episode: Halla Bol, the Play
Janam actors, including some from the original cast, read the delightful and powerful play, Halla Bol.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 19: Safdar's Legacy
Who was Safdar Hashmi? Why was he killed? What lessons does his life hold for us today, as we fight to defend the Constitution of India and the democratic rights enshrined in it?
-
Halla Bol | Episode 18: Dreams
Safdar has ambitious dreams for the future. The narrator soaks it all in. Neither knows that it is the last month of Safdar’s life.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 17: Strike!
Safdar begins writing a play for the seven-day industrial strike in Delhi. Some parts work, some don’t. The narrator comes up with a breakthrough scene. Workers adore Janam’s play for the strike, which is an unparalleled success. The narrator steps into the cop’s role, unrehearsed.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 16: How the Other Half Lives
In 1988, Delhi’s working class decides to go on an unprecedented seven-day industrial strike. Will the strike succeed? What role will Janam play in this massive upsurge?
-
Halla Bol | Episode 15: Consolidating the Gains
Safdar sets about giving Janam’s expansion a firm organizational basis. Janam completes ten years of uninterrupted work in street theatre.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 14: Learning from the Masters
Habib Tanvir, his wife and collaborator Moneeka Misra, and the legendary actor Zohra Segal, each leave their imprint on Janam’s new proscenium play. Safdar is soaking it all up, as is the young narrator. Guest starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 13: Working with the Legends
Habib Tanvir agrees to direct a play for Janam — to be written by Safdar, based on a story by Premchand. Working with the legends is as much fun as it is challenging. Guest starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 12: Breaking the Impasse
Safdar inspires a whole new generation of young actors to join Janam. His aim: to give them creatively challenging work, and to strengthen Janam’s connection with the working-class movement.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 11: A Workshop in Pakistan
Safdar travels to Pakistan for a workshop on street theatre, along with four other theatre personalities – Badal Sircar, Rati Bartholomew, Anuradha Kapur and Maya Rao. He interacts with the late Madeeha Gauhar there, as well as other artists. But Janam itself is in crisis and he must do something...
-
Halla Bol | Episode 10: Spreading Wings
Safdar is one of the main organisers of the biggest anti-communal campaign — in 1984 — in the history of Delhi. He also begins working in television, just as the video revolution begins in India. He writes his most popular work, the song 'Padhna Likhna Seekho'.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 9: Kitaben
Janam tries to write a play on caste – and fails. Safdar begins writing for children; he writes plays and poems, including the well-known song, Kitaben, on the joys of reading.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 8: Hit the Streets
Janam actors are a colourful bunch. Safdar plays a catalyst’s role in getting Ritwik Ghatak’s films to the world. A spectator recalls her first experience of watching a street play. Street theatre spreads rapidly through the country. Guest starring Amruta Subhash.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 7: Newspaper of the Poor
Janam’s street plays are a hit. Audiences are gobsmacked by this new type of theatre. Safdar starts thinking about the theory of street theatre. In Karnataka, Samudaya pioneers street theatre.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 6: Love in the Time of Emergency
Janam is formed in 1973, and the Emergency is declared in 1975. Safdar leaves Delhi, and falls in love. Moloyashree and Safdar get married in 1979.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 5: The Growing-Up Years
How Safdar, like the proverbial grasshopper, joined college only one year after his brother, elder to him by four years. How resistance brewed in a coffee cup. How Safdar and others revived IPTA, and were thrown out of it.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 4: Joining Janam
Summer, 1987. The young narrator joins Janam and makes a disastrous debut in street theatre. And then discovers that he is a disaster at pretty much everything he tries his hand at. Safdar watches, amused.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 3: Farewell, Comrade
January 2, 1989: Safdar dies; January 3: Thousands bid him goodbye, in anger and rage; January 4: Janam returns to the site of the attack to complete the interrupted play, led by Moloyashree.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 2: Hide and Seek
January 1, 1989. Safdar is grievously injured in the attack. Three Janam actors move him from hospital to hospital, to try and save his life. The others escape, or hide. Among them is Moloyashree, Safdar’s wife.
-
Halla Bol | Episode 1: The Attack
January 1, 1989. A crisp, sunny, winter day, perfect for street theatre. The play is disrupted by a procession. It seems a small enough matter — but isn't.
-
Halla Bol | Preview
Safdar Hashmi was killed in 1989 for doing a play. In his death, he became an icon — for freedom of expression, for standing up to oppression, for the right to dissent. The Halla Bol Podcast is Safdar Hashmi's story — it's not a story of death, but the story of a life lived in art and activism....
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
Artist and activist Safdar Hashmi's short and rich life is narrated by Sudhanva Deshpande from his book, Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi. The podcast features guest actors, archival interviews and rare recordings, of even Safdar's own voice.
It was a killing that shocked a nation. On January 1, 1989, the Delhi-based theatre group Jana Natya Manch (Janam) was attacked by political goons while performing its street play Halla Bol. Two people were killed in this attack — a young migrant worker from Nepal, Ram Bahadur, and Janam's charismatic leader, the playwright-actor-director-lyricist Safdar Hashmi. Less than 48 hours after Safdar's death, Janam returned to the scene of the killing and completed the interrupted play — led by Moloyashree, actor, theatre activist and Safdar's wife. In his death, Safdar became an icon — for freedom of expression, for standing up to oppression, for the right to dissent.
हल्ला बोल: सफ़दर हाश्मी की मौत और ज़िंदगी is a boo
HOSTED BY
Sudhanva Deshpande
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Halla Bol Podcast have?
The Halla Bol Podcast currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Halla Bol Podcast about?
Artist and activist Safdar Hashmi's short and rich life is narrated by Sudhanva Deshpande from his book, Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi. The podcast features guest actors, archival interviews and rare recordings, of even Safdar's own voice. It was a killing that shocked a nation. On...
How often does The Halla Bol Podcast release new episodes?
The Halla Bol Podcast has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Halla Bol Podcast?
You can listen to The Halla Bol Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Halla Bol Podcast?
The Halla Bol Podcast is created and hosted by Sudhanva Deshpande.
URL copied to clipboard!