Sunil Mehra mesmerises audience with digital dastangoi performance

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 13

Sunil Mehra is a man who wears many hats. As an artiste, he is always keen to explore more, say more and share more. He has taken on many challenges in his life head on, which reflects in his demeanour and life choices. Intrepid to the core, he is never hesitant in doing experiments.

A social commentator, an artiste, a writer, a journalist, an international dastango, and an actor, who stood out in an ensemble cast in ‘Uri’, Sunil has presented multiple facets of his talents.

Joining the Majha House’s online session of dastangoi, Sunil once again entertained his audience, this time through digital media by narrating humourous yet insightful stories from Himanshu Bajpie’s acclaimed book ‘Qissa Qissa Locknowa’.

He presented four short stories from the novel that deal with escapades, sexual and otherwise, of the common man of Lucknow, a city he sees as a way of life.

Talking about dastangoi, he said it was an ancient form of storytelling which was being revived and appreciated now all over the word.

“I myself have performed in Dubai and other countries. I have received huge appreciation and accolades,” he said.

A 13th century art of storytelling in Urdu was rendered dead until it was revived by Mahmood Farooqui in 2005. In India, Sunil is among the handful professionals of dastango, who have represented the art form on the international stage.