Shabana Azmi was the amazing story teller in the theatrical and musical performance, Kaifi aur Main (Kaifi and Me.) The enchanting night began and concluded, but the soulful and well-executed performance by Azmi and Javed Akhtar along with vocalist, Jaswinder Singh lingered like the faint smell of lemon sitting cool on a soul’s tuft. The work was a snapshot of a time and place in Indian history, when two lovers courted, and a poet emerged through blood-written letters and betrothel. Shabana Azmi read the letters of her mother, voicing the enduring romance between her mother and father, Kaifi Azmi. Javed Akhtar acted as Kaifi and delivered the poet’s written word succinctly and with reverence.
Born Akhtar Hussein Rizvi, Kaifi Azmi chose his nom de plume based on his place of birth Azamgarh, Utter Pradesh. The performance was complimented by instrumentals, and vocals by Jaswinder Singh, who won the hearts of the audience by his amazing range. It was a night filled with music, poetry and most of all, the union of poetry lovers.
