Dastan Tilism-e-Hoshruba
Dastangoi (Urdu Storytelling)
1.0 hrs
January 11, 2026 8:00 pm Sunday
A solo Classic Dastangoi performance by Kafeel Jafri narrating the magical story of a fantasy world (tilism) with Aiyaars (tricksters), especially Amar Aiyaar, trying to fight off the Saahirs or Jadugars (magicians) and their magician army. There are buildings, cities and jungles, all made using magic, by magicians with an intention of catching the tricksters. This constant tussle between the two groups is what makes the performance highly dramatic with diverse set of characters, delivered in mellifluous Urdu, with a mix of urdu poetry. These Dastans are 150-250 years old and Dastangoi as a form went extinct around 1920s and was revived in Mid 2000s
Organizer
Kafeel Jafri
Kafeel Jafri, is a Lucknowi based in Bangalore. He is a trained theatre artist, Dastango/storyteller and trainer. As an actor he has done about 20 plays with various theatre groups in Bangalore, 1 feature film and numerous ad films and short films.
Kafeel specialises in the theatrical storytelling form in Urdu Dastangoi. Along with performing classical Dastans, he has also written and performed new Dastans (Dastan-e-Seetayana, Dastan-e-Maseeha and Dastan Anekta mein Ekta ki) and shows around life and works of famous Urdu literature personalities like Ghalib, Faiz and Manto.
He also utilises his learnings in Drama and Storytelling to design and facilitate workshops around- Diversity and Inclusion, Storytelling and Sales- in various organisations across the country.