Lamakaan, Hyderabad’s open cultural space, is set to mark its 16th anniversary with a four-day programme from February 5 to February 8. The celebrations will open with a reading by veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who will present excerpts from the works of noted dramatist Imtiaz Ali Taj. His is known for Anarkali, a play that was later adapted into the classic Hindi film Mughal-e-Azam.
Ashhar Farhan, one of Lamakaan’s founders, said the anniversary programme marked a shift in the space’s programming approach. “This year is a move from being reflective to being progressive,” he said, adding that the programming would be more exploratory and experimental.
Mr. Farhan said Lamakaan was consciously trying to discover new formats. “We are highlighting Urdu dramatists this year, beginning with Imtiaz Ali Taj,” he said.
Telugu literature will form another strand of the celebrations, with discussions on how liberalisation has shaped its themes and concerns. Among the more unusual offerings is a Bharatanatyam adaptation of Utho Ab Maati Se, a poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz on Palestine. Mr. Farhan said the idea was to place political and literary texts in new performative contexts.
Lamakaan’s focus on poetry, he explained had also evolved. “Earlier, we explored the lives of poets. Now we want to get into the thick of things, to examine the evolution of poetics and how it has changed over time.”
Political engagement at Lamakaan is also being revised . While earlier discussions featured what Mr. Farhan described as ‘hard talks’ with politicians, the emphasis is now on broader political processes. He cited an upcoming session by Biju Mathew, who worked for two years on Zohran Mamdani’s campaign in New York, offering an insider’s view of how a minority candidate can win in one of the world’s most capitalist cities.
The programme will also include reinterpretations of established narratives. “Du Saraswati is retelling episodes from the epics through a Dalit woman’s perspective,” Mr. Farhan said.
Published – February 04, 2026 08:09 pm IST
