https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-halla-bol-podcast--4870228
It was a killing that shocked a nation. On January 1, 1989, the Delhi-based theatre group Jana Natya Manch (Janam) was attacked by political goons while performing its street play Halla Bol. Two people were killed in this attack — a young migrant worker from Nepal, Ram Bahadur, and Janam's charismatic leader, the playwright-actor-director-lyricist Safdar Hashmi. Less than 48 hours after Safdar's death, Janam returned to the scene of the killing and completed the interrupted play — led by Moloyashree, actor, theatre activist and Safdar's wife. In his death, Safdar became an icon — for freedom of expression, for standing up to oppression, for the right to dissent.

हल्ला बोल: सफ़दर हाश्मी की मौत और ज़िंदगी is a book about the luminous life of Safdar Hashmi, written by Sudhanva Deshpande, one of Safdar's closest collaborators. Actor Naseeruddin Shah says of the book: “I was by turns informed, amused, enraged, and deeply moved.”

The Halla Bol Podcast, produced by Ashish Paliwal, is more than a reading of the book. It contains archival interviews, revolutionary songs, plays, Safdar's writings for children, and rare recordings of Safdar's own voice. Safdar's life is narrated over 19 episodes by Sudhanva. Joining him are incredible actors like Naseeruddin Shah as the voice of Habib Tanvir, Ratna Pathak Shah as the voice of Moneeka Mishra Tanvir, and Amruta Subhash as the voice of Kalindi Deshpande. The announcement and credits are read by Sania Hashmi. In a bonus episode, Janam actors read out the script of the play 'Halla Bol'.

Primary language: Hindi | Total episodes: 19 + 1 | Fresh episodes every Tuesday and Friday from April 22 to June 29, 2021.

Credits: Halla Bol is published in English by LeftWord Books, and in Hindi (translation: Yogendra Dutt) by Vaam Prakashan. Production Assistant: Hymanshu Singh. Sound Editor: Dhruv Rai. Photographer: Tapesh Sharma. Graphic design: Sherna Dastur. Recording and mastering: Mohammad Hasan Siddiqui, Hertz Sound Studio, New Delhi. Signature tune: M.D. Pallavi. Audio interviews courtesy: Jana Natya Manch and Sudhanva Deshpande. Thanks to: Kajal Ghosh, Parcham, Jana Natya Manch, Barefoot, Vinutha Mallya, Sameera Iyengar, Hasan bhai's family, Amruta Subhash, Ratna Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin Shah. Directed by: Ashish Paliwal and Sudhanva Deshpande. Produced by: Ashish Paliwal.

Additional credits are mentioned at the end of each episode.]]>hiPerforming ArtsCopyright Sudhanva Deshpandehttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/be5798099eb6a5f9a8063ffdd341bc11.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-halla-bol-podcast--4870228Sat, 04 May 2024 06:28:10 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSudhanva Deshpandethehallabolpodcast@gmail.comArtist and activist Safdar Hashmi's short and rich life is narrated by Sudhanva Deshpande from his book, Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi. The podcast features guest actors, archival interviews and rare recordings, of even Safdar's own...
It was a killing that shocked a nation. On January 1, 1989, the Delhi-based theatre group Jana Natya Manch (Janam) was attacked by political goons while performing its street play Halla Bol. Two people were killed in this attack — a young migrant worker from Nepal, Ram Bahadur, and Janam's charismatic leader, the playwright-actor-director-lyricist Safdar Hashmi. Less than 48 hours after Safdar's death, Janam returned to the scene of the killing and completed the interrupted play — led by Moloyashree, actor, theatre activist and Safdar's wife. In his death, Safdar became an icon — for freedom of expression, for standing up to oppression, for the right to dissent.

हल्ला बोल: सफ़दर हाश्मी की मौत और ज़िंदगी is a book about the luminous life of Safdar Hashmi, written by Sudhanva Deshpande, one of Safdar's closest collaborators. Actor Naseeruddin Shah says of the book: “I was by turns informed, amused, enraged, and deeply moved.”

The Halla Bol Podcast, produced by Ashish Paliwal, is more than a reading of the book. It contains archival interviews, revolutionary songs, plays, Safdar's writings for children, and rare recordings of Safdar's own voice. Safdar's life is narrated over 19 episodes by Sudhanva. Joining him are incredible actors like Naseeruddin Shah as the voice of Habib Tanvir, Ratna Pathak Shah as the voice of Moneeka Mishra Tanvir, and Amruta Subhash as the voice of Kalindi Deshpande. The announcement and credits are read by Sania Hashmi. In a bonus episode, Janam actors read out the script of the play 'Halla Bol'.

Primary language: Hindi | Total episodes: 19 + 1 | Fresh episodes every Tuesday and Friday from April 22 to June 29, 2021.

Credits: Halla Bol is published in English by LeftWord Books, and in Hindi (translation: Yogendra Dutt) by Vaam Prakashan. Production Assistant: Hymanshu Singh. Sound Editor: Dhruv Rai. Photographer: Tapesh Sharma. Graphic design: Sherna Dastur. Recording and mastering: Mohammad Hasan Siddiqui, Hertz Sound Studio, New Delhi. Signature tune: M.D. Pallavi. Audio interviews courtesy: Jana Natya Manch and Sudhanva Deshpande. Thanks to: Kajal Ghosh, Parcham, Jana Natya Manch, Barefoot, Vinutha Mallya, Sameera Iyengar, Hasan bhai's family, Amruta Subhash, Ratna Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin Shah. Directed by: Ashish Paliwal and Sudhanva Deshpande. Produced by: Ashish Paliwal.

Additional credits are mentioned at the end of each episode.]]>falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-bonus-episode-halla-bol-the-play--45635833https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45635833Fri, 09 Jul 2021 10:25:00 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanam actors, including some from the original cast, read the delightful and powerful play, Halla Bol.2147biography,chakkajaam,citu,classstruggle,communist,cpim,hallabol,industrialaction,janam,jananatyamanch,molyashreehashmi,play,politicaltheatre,recordedplay,safdarhashmi,streetplay,streettheatre,tradeunion,womensrights,womenworkersfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-19-safdar-s-legacy--45548916https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45548916Fri, 02 Jul 2021 10:30:00 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeWho was Safdar Hashmi? Why was he killed? What lessons does his life hold for us today, as we fight to defend the Constitution of India and the democratic rights enshrined in it?2044aidwa,biography,citu,classstruggle,communist,congressparty,cpim,ghaziabad,hinduright,industrialbelt,janam,jananatyamanch,jhandapur,mukeshsharma,politicalkillings,politicaltheatre,rambahadur,safdarhashmi,sahmat,sfifalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-18-dreams--45435097https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45435097Mon, 28 Jun 2021 23:30:05 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar has ambitious dreams for the future. The narrator soaks it all in. Neither knows that it is the last month of Safdar’s life.2781biography,chakkajaam,citu,cpim,culturalcentre,hallabol,india,ipta,janam,jananatyamanch,janotsav,madanmahatta,marx,moloyashreehashmi,motiframes,podcastepisodeeighteen,safdarhashmi,shankarmarket,streettheatre,working-class-areafalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-17-strike--45435093https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45435093Fri, 25 Jun 2021 10:30:08 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar begins writing a play for the seven-day industrial strike in Delhi. Some parts work, some don’t. The narrator comes up with a breakthrough scene. Workers adore Janam’s play for the strike, which is an unparalleled success. The narrator steps...3191ayeshakidwai,biography,chakkajam,citu,cpim,india,industrialworkers,janam,jananatyamanch,jogi,moloyashreehashmi,parbati,podcastepisodeseventeen,safdarhashmi,scenewriting,seven-day-strike,stammering,streettheatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-16-how-the-other-half-lives--45117149https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45117149Mon, 21 Jun 2021 23:30:16 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeIn 1988, Delhi’s working class decides to go on an unprecedented seven-day industrial strike. Will the strike succeed? What role will Janam play in this massive upsurge?3622adityanigam,biography,brindakarat,citu,cpim,factoriesact,india,industrialworkers,janam,jananatyamanch,kmtiwari,moloyashreehashmi,nandnagri,podcastepisodesixteen,safdarhashmi,seven-day-strike,streettheatre,subodhvarma,tradeunions,working-class-strugglesfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-15-consolidating-the-gains--45117147https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45117147Fri, 18 Jun 2021 10:30:03 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar sets about giving Janam’s expansion a firm organizational basis. Janam completes ten years of uninterrupted work in street theatre.1702aifacs,biography,chakkajaam,girgit,gpd,india,janam-ec,jananatyamanch,mkraina,moloyashreehashmi,moteram,nsd-repertory,podcastepisodefifteen,pyarelalbhavan,ratibartholomew,safdarhashmi,seven-day-strike,streettheatre,workingclass,yuvrajsharmafalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-14-learning-from-the-masters--45073355https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45073355Mon, 14 Jun 2021 23:30:06 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeHabib Tanvir, his wife and collaborator Moneeka Misra, and the legendary actor Zohra Segal, each leave their imprint on Janam’s new proscenium play. Safdar is soaking it all up, as is the young narrator. Guest starring Ratna Pathak Shah and...2456biography,chamelijaan,dramatech,habibtanvir,hindustanitheatre,iit-delhi,intisaab,janam,jananatyamanch,moneekamisra,moteram-ka-satyagraha,nageentanvir,nayatheatre,niazhaider,pocastepisodefourteen,qudsiazaidi,safdarhashmi,sardar-patel-vidyalaya,vibhaparthasarathi,zohrasegalfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-13-working-with-the-legends--45059055Guest starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45059055Mon, 07 Jun 2021 23:30:05 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeHabib Tanvir agrees to direct a play for Janam — to be written by Safdar, based on a story by Premchand. Working with the legends is as much fun as it is challenging. Guest starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah.Guest starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah.]]>2295babrimasjid,bersarai,chamelijaan,communist,farce,fidabaimarkam,habibtanvir,india,jananatyamanch,moloyashreehashmi,moneekadi,moteram,nayatheatre,nsd,podcastepisodethirteen,premchand,premchandsamaroh,prosceniumplay,safdarhashmi,satyagrahafalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-12-breaking-the-impasse--45107522https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45107522Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:30:20 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar inspires a whole new generation of young actors to join Janam. His aim: to give them creatively challenging work, and to strengthen Janam’s connection with the working-class movement.1324aurat,biography,brechtian,india,iranian-communist,janam,jananatyamanch,jnu-workshop,marziehahmedooskooi,moloyashreehashmi,nanditadas,podcastepisodetwelve,rajakabaaja,safdarhashmi,samrath,sfi,streettheatre,worker-woman,working-class,young-actorsfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-11-a-workshop-in-pakistan--45058919https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45058919Fri, 28 May 2021 10:30:18 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar travels to Pakistan for a workshop on street theatre, along with four other theatre personalities – Badal Sircar, Rati Bartholomew, Anuradha Kapur and Maya Rao. He interacts with the late Madeeha Gauhar there, as well as other artists. But...1498ajoka,anuradhakapur,badalsircar,biography,faizmela,freetheatre,india,janam,jananatyamanch,kamlabhasin,lahore,madeehagauhar,mayarao,moloyashreehashmi,pocastepisodeeleven,prabirdutta,ratibartholomew,safdarhashmi,silhouette,streettheatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-10-spreading-wings--45020078https://api.spreaker.com/episode/45020078Tue, 25 May 2021 10:35:16 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar is one of the main organisers of the biggest anti-communal campaign — in 1984 — in the history of Delhi. He also begins working in television, just as the video revolution begins in India. He writes his most popular work, the song 'Padhna...3053anti-sikh-pogrom,biography,caste,communalharmony,communist,doordarshan,india,jamia,janam,jananatyamanch,khiltikaliyan,mcrc,moloyashreehashmi,national-literacy-mission,padhna-likhna-seekho,parcham,podcastepisodeten,safdarhashmi,streettheatre,sumangaladamodaranfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-9-kitaben--44926494https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44926494Fri, 21 May 2021 10:30:02 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanam tries to write a play on caste – and fails. Safdar begins writing for children; he writes plays and poems, including the well-known song, Kitaben, on the joys of reading.2817biography,caste,childrens-plays,communist,harijan-play,india,janam,jananatyamanch,kitaben,kitabghar-library,moloyashreehashmi,national-street-drama-festival,podcastepisodenine,safdarhashmi,sardar-patel-vidyalaya,streettheatre,sukumarray,tathagat,vibhaparthasarathifalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-8-hit-the-streets--44887059Guest starring Amruta Subhash.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44887059Tue, 18 May 2021 10:30:02 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanam actors are a colourful bunch. Safdar plays a catalyst’s role in getting Ritwik Ghatak’s films to the world. A spectator recalls her first experience of watching a street play. Street theatre spreads rapidly through the country. Guest starring...Guest starring Amruta Subhash.]]>2700amrutasubhash,aurat,biography,brijesh,buland,communist,india,janam-actors,jananatyamanch,kalindideshpande,madangopalsingh,manikaul,moloyashreehashmi,podcastepisodeeight,ritwikghatak,safdarhashmi,streetplays,streettheatre,theatreunion,workshoptheatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-7-newspaper-of-the-poor--44750055https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44750055Fri, 14 May 2021 10:30:20 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanam’s street plays are a hit. Audiences are gobsmacked by this new type of theatre. Safdar starts thinking about the theory of street theatre. In Karnataka, Samudaya pioneers street theatre.2504belchi,biography,boat-club-rally,cgk,citu,cpim,emergency,herig-india,india,janam,jananatyamanch,kavitanagpal,machine,nksharma,podcastepisodeseven,rakeshsaxena,safdarhashmi,samudaya,streetplays,streettheatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-6-love-in-the-time-of-emergency--44735650https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44735650Tue, 11 May 2021 10:30:16 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanam is formed in 1973, and the Emergency is declared in 1975. Safdar leaves Delhi, and falls in love. Moloyashree and Safdar get married in 1979.2742biography,communist,comrademajor,cpim,emergency,garhwaluniversity,india,ipta,janam,jananatyamanch,kavitanagpal,moloyashreehashmi,neelbagh,podcastepisodesix,prabhatupreti,safdarhashmi,srinagar,streetplays,streettheatre,vinodnagpalfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-5-the-growing-up-years--44675032https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44675032Fri, 07 May 2021 10:30:08 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeHow Safdar, like the proverbial grasshopper, joined college only one year after his brother, elder to him by four years. How resistance brewed in a coffee cup. How Safdar and others revived IPTA, and were thrown out of it.3388aligarh,biography,communist,cpi,delhikannadaschool,delhiuniversity,duta,haneefhashmi,india,indiancoffeehouse,ipta,podcastepisodefive,qamarhashmi,safdarhashmi,sfi,shankarmarket,shyamalmukherjee,sohailhashmi,stephen's,streetplaysfalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-4-joining-janam--44605963https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44605963Tue, 04 May 2021 10:30:10 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSummer, 1987. The young narrator joins Janam and makes a disastrous debut in street theatre. And then discovers that he is a disaster at pretty much everything he tries his hand at. Safdar watches, amused.2045aidwa,biography,communist,india,janam,jananatyamanch,kalindideshpande,mohanlal,moloyashreehashmi,nksharma,podcastepisodefour,politicaltheatre,rajakabaaja,safdarhashmi,samratkonahidoshgosain,sardarpatelvidyalaya,sfi,streetplays,theatre,vijaykaliafalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-3-farewell-comrade--44555043https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44555043Fri, 30 Apr 2021 10:30:04 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanuary 2, 1989: Safdar dies; January 3: Thousands bid him goodbye, in anger and rage; January 4: Janam returns to the site of the attack to complete the interrupted play, led by Moloyashree.1790biography,classtruggle,documentary,funeralprocession,habibtanvir,hospital,india,janam,jananatyamanch,jhandapur,moloyashreehashmi,podcastepisodethree,politicalkilling,politicaltheatre,pressconference,safdarhashmi,shabanaazmi,statement,streetplays,theatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-2-hide-and-seek--44489322https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44489322Tue, 27 Apr 2021 10:30:00 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanuary 1, 1989. Safdar is grievously injured in the attack. Three Janam actors move him from hospital to hospital, to try and save his life. The others escape, or hide. Among them is Moloyashree, Safdar’s wife.2888biography,citu,classtruggle,documentary,habibtanvir,hospital,india,janam,jannatyamanch,jhandapur,moloyashreehashmi,podcastepisodetwo,poliliticaltheatre,politicalart,politicalkilling,prabirpurkayastha,safdarhashmi,streetplays,streettheatre,theatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-episode-1-the-attack--44433857https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44433857Thu, 22 Apr 2021 12:30:18 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeJanuary 1, 1989. A crisp, sunny, winter day, perfect for street theatre. The play is disrupted by a procession. It seems a small enough matter — but isn't.1704biography,classstruggle,communistparty,documentary,india,janam,jananatyamanch,jhandapur,jnu,moloyshreehashmi,podcastepisodeone,politicalart,politicalkilling,politicaltheatre,safdarhashmi,streetplays,streettheatre,theatrefalse1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/halla-bol-preview--44404710
Produced by Ashish Paliwal, the podcast is narrated by Sudhanva Deshpande, one of Safdar's closest collaborators and author of the book Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/44404710Tue, 20 Apr 2021 12:24:15 +0000Sudhanva DeshpandeSafdar Hashmi was killed in 1989 for doing a play. In his death, he became an icon — for freedom of expression, for standing up to oppression, for the right to dissent. The Halla Bol Podcast is Safdar Hashmi's story — it's not a story of death, but...
Produced by Ashish Paliwal, the podcast is narrated by Sudhanva Deshpande, one of Safdar's closest collaborators and author of the book Halla Bol: The Death and Life of Safdar Hashmi.]]>835amrutasubhash,biography,classstruggle,communistparty,documentary,habibtanvir,india,kitabein,moloyashreehashmi,naseeruddinshah,podcastpreview,poems,politicalart,politicalkilling,politicaltheatre,ratnapathakshah,safdarhashmi,streetplays,streettheatre,theatrefalse1full