Sheher-e-Manto theatre review: Love, loss & longing collide in this engaging medley of stories
Sheher-e-Manto
(Drama/Comedy)
★★★★
Cast: Amulya, Abhishek Gupta, Nikhil Ahuja , Priya Vinayak, Priyanshu, Abhishek Barnwal, Ronak, Akshay, Chandu Chirravuri, Sahil Patil, Rahul Agrawal, Hitendra Zala
Director: Nikhil Ahuja
Duration: 90 min
Language: Hindi/Urdu
Review:
Before the stories unfold, an introductory monologue reminds the audience that “...1955
Saadat
… lekin Manto reh gaye...” That sentiment becomes the thematic anchor of
, director Nikhil Ahuja’s debut production, which explores how Manto’s observations on human nature continue to resonate decades later.
As the title suggests, the play invites audiences into Manto’s city, a place inhabited by unfulfilled desires, quiet griefs, moral dilemmas, and uncomfortable truths that often remain hidden beneath everyday life. Through three distinct stories, Ahuja crafts a journey that is by turns humorous, poignant, and reflective.
The first story, centred on a principled journalist whose warnings go unheard, draws parallels with society’s tendency to ignore inconvenient truths. The mood shifts with
, where dark humour emerges from a young woman’s declaration that she intends to end her life, only to be met with responses laced with sarcasm and absurdity. The final segment,
, is the most affecting. It follows Malti, a struggling tailor caught between love and the promise of material comfort, and explores the distance between desire and fulfilment.
What makes the production work is its ability to present weighty themes with an accessible lightness. The ensemble cast performs with conviction throughout, with Nikhil Ahuja, Amulya, and Abhishek Gupta standing out. Though the production occasionally feels stretched, Sheher-e-Manto succeeds in capturing the spirit of its source material, leaving audiences to confront the ghosts that continue to inhabit Manto’s city.
Should you watch it?
Yes, for its blend of satire, emotion, and enduring social commentary.
- Sheher-e-Manto review : A moving journey through Saadat Hasan Manto 's world
(Drama/Comedy)
★★★★
Cast: Amulya, Abhishek Gupta, Nikhil Ahuja , Priya Vinayak, Priyanshu, Abhishek Barnwal, Ronak, Akshay, Chandu Chirravuri, Sahil Patil, Rahul Agrawal, Hitendra Zala
Director: Nikhil Ahuja
Duration: 90 min
Language: Hindi/Urdu
Review:
Before the stories unfold, an introductory monologue reminds the audience that “...1955
… lekin Manto reh gaye...” That sentiment becomes the thematic anchor of
, director Nikhil Ahuja’s debut production, which explores how Manto’s observations on human nature continue to resonate decades later.
As the title suggests, the play invites audiences into Manto’s city, a place inhabited by unfulfilled desires, quiet griefs, moral dilemmas, and uncomfortable truths that often remain hidden beneath everyday life. Through three distinct stories, Ahuja crafts a journey that is by turns humorous, poignant, and reflective.
The first story, centred on a principled journalist whose warnings go unheard, draws parallels with society’s tendency to ignore inconvenient truths. The mood shifts with
, where dark humour emerges from a young woman’s declaration that she intends to end her life, only to be met with responses laced with sarcasm and absurdity. The final segment,
, is the most affecting. It follows Malti, a struggling tailor caught between love and the promise of material comfort, and explores the distance between desire and fulfilment.
What makes the production work is its ability to present weighty themes with an accessible lightness. The ensemble cast performs with conviction throughout, with Nikhil Ahuja, Amulya, and Abhishek Gupta standing out. Though the production occasionally feels stretched, Sheher-e-Manto succeeds in capturing the spirit of its source material, leaving audiences to confront the ghosts that continue to inhabit Manto’s city.
Should you watch it?
Yes, for its blend of satire, emotion, and enduring social commentary.
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