16/10/2018
*The show was yet to begin. It was almost as if he was walking into a visual library of days bygone. Nameless faces brought back to life in a montage of emotion--finally receiving the prominence they deserve. A Carpet-sellers shop pushed into the backdrop; but, the toil of the marginalized artisans flashing in front of your eyes, while actors--with names changed--jumped out of the screen and came alive--if one chose to, they could even touch them*
This was but a glimpse of the experience that Saeed Mirza, Jennifer Mirza and the many guests attending the first DTalks of this season at Natarani Amphitheatre were witness to. Many were moved; many were enthralled. But, most of all, Saeed Bhai was celebrated for being an inspiration to us all and being a pioneer in the Mumbai film industry--whose stories spoke of the ordinary people in the backdrop of extraordinary socio-political upheaval and violence.
A solemn reading experience from his latest book, Memory in the Age of Amnesia transported the audience through the auteur's ways of looking at the world--finding beauty in nuances and ordinary people, while constantly being aware of the turbulent times we live in.
