Begum Akhtar was a “rockstar” of her times. Hundred years of the Begum and this Malika-e-Ghazal (queen of Ghazal) is still remembered, loved and revered like very few other artists have ever been. But what is the life of a Bai (a songstress) who becomes a Begum?
Through this production where music and storytelling in Urdu come together, we bring to life the world of Awadh, social history of Indian music, Urdu poetry, classical Urdu poets such as Ghalib and Mir and the impact of the nationalist movement on all of this. Centred around the life of the legendary Begum Akhtar, it also highlights the intersections between performance, gender and patriarchy. Performed across various cities, like Lucknow, Calcutta, Ahmedabad and Jaipur, among others, on various literature festivals, Akhtari brings forth a fabulous and enchanting set of performances.