‘Mann Mutabiq’ to present storytelling with Sufi music in Hyderabad

A scene from ‘Mann Mutabiq’ 
| Photo Credit: ‘Special Arrangement

Playwright and storyteller Bande Nawaz is set to enthrall audiences with a musical play, Mann Mutabiq – a Qissa Goi. The interactive play blends storytelling and Sufi songs to evoke a gamut of emotions and highlight social issues.

Portraying multiple characters in this 90-minute production, Nawaz, the director and founder of Bengaluru-based Peppirit Productions, is the sutradhar (narrator). Accompanied by two actors, Suraj R and Bhoomi Telkar, he plays multiple instruments, sings and acts to narrate stories.

As the story progresses, the sutradhar transforms into multiple characters from a village, each character portraying distinct quirks, mannerisms and a modified voice. While Tejas GR handles the sound department and Karthik Shukla plays the tabla, the team led by Kunal J uses different lighting techniques to enhance the situation and character’s emotion.

Interactive storytelling

“The play’s uniqueness is the sutradhar playing different characters and the audience identifying them through lights, expressions and dialogues,” says Nawaz, over the phone from Bengaluru. The interactive storytelling creates a part for the audience too, as they get to answer questions posed by the sutradhar. When the question ‘What is God’ comes to the fore, different people have different answers but love (“God is the love we spread’) wins them all. For those who still have questions, Mutabiq (Sutradhar) answers them. “Without us lecturing, the audience discover on their own through characters. Love is found in different ways — caring for others and empathy keep us together.”

The musical play, staged thrice in Bengaluru, has four original songs (written and composed by Nawaz) and Sufi numbers from Hindi cinema.

Nawaz was inspired to create an entertaining musical to make it appealing even for non-theatre lovers. “Themes with social issues are usually dialogue-heavy and primarily engage theatre enthusiasts. Our aim was to create a narrative that is not preachy so that those who are not theatre regulars can also enjoy them.”

Mann Mutabiq – a Qissa Goi will be staged at Rangbhoomi Spaces on May 24; Tickets: bookmyshow