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Prisoners Find Catharsis on Tihar Stage
31 Aug
Summary
- A drama class initiated by Mahmood Farooqui led to inmate performances.
- The acting workshops offered prisoners a path to hope and redemption.
- Inmates recreated their own experiences, making acting accessible.
Mahmood Farooqui, co-director of 'Peepli (Live)', initiated a drama class while incarcerated in Tihar Jail. Despite his own conviction in 2016 (later overturned in 2017), Farooqui saw theatre as a means of catharsis for inmates.
Starting with a few prisoners, the initiative grew, leading to multiple productions. These performances offered inmates a path to "catharsis, hope and redemption," according to Farooqui's memoir, "The Tihar Players." Actor Naseeruddin Shah praised the authenticity of the inmate performances.
Farooqui adapted the class to the prison environment, using inmates' own lives and ward experiences as inspiration. Many inmates, unfamiliar with theatre, learned to express themselves through improvisation and character portrayal.
Productions like "Nasha," "Ramleela," and "Court Martial" showcased the transformative power of art. While theatre couldn't alter sentences, it provided a significant emotional and psychological diversion for the prisoners.
Following his release, Farooqui returned as an instructor. Though the program faced challenges with the COVID-19 pandemic, one inmate, Bhanu Raghav, continued the workshops for a time.
