A few days ago, I went to see a play called Ilhaam with office friends and Nikita. The performance was at Prithvi, and I felt it was just the right place to see the play. Sitting in the second row of the auditorium, less than 10 feet from the actors, I got into the play.
The Mumbai Theatre Guide had the following preview for Ilhaam:
A man… Standing on the edge…Eager to take that leap…into his childhood…Yet a fear holds him back…the fear of losing his past & present.
Because he remembers the boatman who was stoned out of the village for talking to a bird and the beggar whose beautiful songs nobody could hear.
Because, at least once, we have all called him mad. That half naked man who shambles down our street, clutching his whole life in a sack and muttering god-knows-what to himself.
Because he knows that those who were dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn’t hear the music.
The acting was very good, but I was touched by the concept. The cliched thought that those whom we call mad, think the rest are mad, was very evident. But the sheer joy in simplicity and the ease of being a child came out powerfully. Manav Kaul, the writer & director has done great job with dialogs as well. Check out two:
- Paida hua tabhi to shant kua tha. Phir khilaune dale, thode patthar dale. Bacha tha to dusro ke expectations dale. Phir pani hi nahi bacha.
- Park me meine ek nirash aadmi ko dekha. Mein us aadmi ko to nahi janta tha, lekin uski nirasha ko janta tha. Meine apna haath badhaya. Usne haath tham liya. Woh mujhe to nahi janta tha, mere hath badhane ko janta tha. Hum dono saath chalte gaye. Hum ek dusro ko nahi jante the, lekin saath chalne ko jaante the.
By the end of the play, none of us could figure out the meaning of Ilhaam, but were in awe. Here’s what I found around the web:
- Kashaf/Ilhaam (unveiling of arcane knowledge)
Kashaf, or Ilhaam is the stage where man starts getting information that most people are unable to observe. In the beginning, this condition occurs suddenly without personal control. With practice, the mind gets so energized that it can get this knowledge by will. (on wikipedia) - The literal meaning of the word Ilhaam is to swallow or drink. But when this word is used for God it would mean revelation or sending word. AuhAllah would mean that God sent an angel and sent revelation through him. Ilhaam is used for the converse of God Almighty with men. It is called Ilhaam because it descends upon the heart of the person concerned and it descends very quickly and with a glory of its own, and even though other people may be near the recipient, they remain unaware of what is happening. (from Al Islam)
I enjoy thinking abstract and non linear. Sometimes this can be absurd. But this way of thinking gives me solutions to the most difficult problems. Madness is revelation.
Watch the play if you can!