Go Behind The Scenes With A Retrospective Of Ebrahim Alkazi’s Theatre

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E.Alkazi in rehearsal at Purana Qila, New Delhi, 1974

E.Alkazi in rehearsal at Purana Qila, New Delhi, 1974

Eurydice by Jean Anouilh. Dir. E.Alkazi. Alaknanda Duriaud as Eurydice. Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1959.

Eurydice by Jean Anouilh. Dir. E.Alkazi. Alaknanda Duriaud as Eurydice. Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1959.

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Dir. E.Alkazi. Hima Devi as Hedda Gabler and M.Chitnis as Judge Brack, Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1958.

Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen, Dir. E.Alkazi. Hima Devi as Hedda Gabler and M.Chitnis as Judge Brack, Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1958.

Sultan Razia by Balwant Gargi Dir. E. Alkazi Rohini Oka as Razia, Naseerudin Shah as Jamaluddin Yakut National School of Drama, New Delhi, 1974

Sultan Razia by Balwant Gargi Dir. E. Alkazi Rohini Oka as Razia, Naseerudin Shah as Jamaluddin Yakut National School of Drama, New Delhi, 1974

Miss Julie by August Strindberg, Dir. by E. Alkazi, Alaknanda Samarth as Miss Julie and E. Alkazi as Jean, Theatre Unit Bombay, 1960

Miss Julie by August Strindberg, Dir. by E. Alkazi, Alaknanda Samarth as Miss Julie and E. Alkazi as Jean, Theatre Unit Bombay, 1960

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Dir. E.Alkazi, E.Alkazi as Oedipus. Theatre Group, Mumbai 1954

Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Dir. E.Alkazi, E.Alkazi as Oedipus. Theatre Group, Mumbai 1954

Volpone by Ben Johnson. Dir.E.Alkazi. E.Alkazi as Mosca, Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1959

Volpone by Ben Johnson. Dir.E.Alkazi. E.Alkazi as Mosca, Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1959

Suryamukh by Lakshmi Narain Lal. Dir. E.Alkazi, Om Puri as Pradyumna, Rohini Oka as Maid. NSD, New Delhi, 1972

Suryamukh by Lakshmi Narain Lal. Dir. E.Alkazi, OmPuri as Pradyumna, Rohini Oka as Maid. NSD, New Delhi, 1972

Miss Julie by August Strindberg. Dir. E.Alkazi. Alaknanda Samarth as Miss Julie. Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1960

Miss Julie by August Strindberg. Dir. E.Alkazi. Alaknanda Samarth as Miss Julie. Theatre Unit, Bombay, 1960

Three Penny Opera/Teen Take ka Swaand by Bertolt Brecht. Dir. Fritz Bennewitz. Curtain Call, NSD, 1970

Three Penny Opera/Teen Take ka Swaand by Bertolt Brecht. Dir. Fritz Bennewitz. Curtain Call, NSD, 1970

A love for theatre and the arts is what defined the multifaceted Ebrahim Alkazi, and he’s fondly remembered today for his great contribution to the field. And now, theatre aficionados and fans of photography can enjoy a delightful retrospective of the man’s life on and off the stage. Curated by his daughter, Amal Allana, and designed by her husband Nissar Allana, the exhibition includes rare photographs, archival documents and objects, and models of stage sets in a monumental show.

Viewers will get glimpses of Alkazi’s work from the 1940s to his last years, for the very first time. ‘We are honored to have an exhibition of works by E. Alkazi…he is the doyen who pushed the boundaries of Indian theatre and brought it in line with its international counterparts,’ says Pooja Sood of the Jawahar Kala Kendra where the exhibit is on display. As Oscar Wilde famously wrote, ‘It was only in the theatre that I lived…’ – and this show gives people a chance to discover Alkazi’s true life.

The Theatre of E. Alkazi is on display at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur (2, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Jhalana Doongri) until May 6, 2017