EP 02: Agha Hashr Kashmiri by Saadat Hasan Manto

‘Ganjay Farishtay’ is a podcast series based on Saadat Hasan Manto’s sketches and presented by broadcaster Pervaiz Alam. The second episode of the series features Agha Hashr Kashmiri.

Known as the pioneer of Parsi Theatre in India, Agha Hashr Kashmiri (1879-1935) was a legendary dramatist, poet and screenwriter. Often called Shakespeare of India, Agha Hashr Kashmiri was the most sought after dramatist in his time, receiving the highest fee and drawing some of the biggest crowds to watch his productions such as Asir-e-Hirs, Bhagirath Ganga, Sita Banbas and Rustom o Sohrab. His play Yahudi Ki Ladki was made into a feature film by several directors, including a version in 1958 by Bimal Roy, featuring Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari and Sohrab Modi.

Saadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955) wrote both incisive and sometimes brutally scathing sketches of some of his contemporaries, film stars and writers of his time, leading to several controversies and gossips. There are two collections of Manto’s sketches, Khaake (خاکے / ख़ाके), entitled ‘Ganjay Farishtay’ and ‘Loudspeaker’.