The Halla Bol Podcast

Janam actors, including some from the original cast, read the delightful and powerful play, Halla Bol.

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?

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.

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.

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?

Safdar sets about giving Janam’s expansion a firm organizational basis. Janam completes ten years of uninterrupted work in street theatre.

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.

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.

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.

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 to break out of it. What?