Director Mahmood Farooqui On His Prison Memoir: ‘Tihar Was Both A Curse And A Benediction’
Between 2015 and 2017, theatre practitioner and dastango Mahmood Farooqui spent 18 months in Tihar jail before Delhi High Court acquitted him of a crime he had been accused of by an American researcher. Ten years after his agonising term in Asia’s biggest prison complex, Farooqui has written a moving account of his time there, called The Tihar Players: A Prison Memoir (a handsomely-mounted book…
Mahmood Farooqui's prison memoir, "The Tihar Players: A Prison Memoir," details his 18-month stay in Tihar jail between 2015 and 2017. The book offers an intimate look at life behind bars and the transformative power of theatre in a harsh environment. Farooqui recounts the challenges of catering to an audience comprising mostly uneducated inmates, who were far removed from the cultured patrons he was accustomed to performing for.
He adapted his plays to the circumstances, incorporating humor, relatable characters, and toe-tapping songs. The response from inmates was mixed, ranging from enthusiasm to indifference, but Farooqui persisted, staging plays like "Nasha," "Ramleela," and "Swadesh Deepak’s Court Martial" to varying degrees of success. One play, "Court Martial," proved particularly cathartic for the prisoners, as it resonated deeply with their experiences and emotions.
Ten years after his release, Farooqui witnessed his former jail-mates recreate their prison memories in a moving performance at the launch of his book, held at India International Centre, Delhi. The event was a testament to the enduring impact of his theatrical endeavors and the profound connections he forged within the prison walls.
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