Jo Dooba So Paar

Srishti Ray walked into Jo Dooba So Paar with a blank slate... and walked out with a bunch of thoughts and feelings. See what she has to say in this review.

Review: Jo Dooba So Paar Written by: Ajitesh Gupta Directed by: Ajitesh Gupta and Mohit Agarwal Produced by: Manav Kaul Venue: Experimental Theatre, NCPA Date: 13 Feb 2025

Let me start by confessing that I knew nothing about the iconic sufi singer, poet and scholar, Amir Khusrau, except his name. Given that I love reading and I hail from a family full of singers, I am not proud of this. 

Over the years, Jo Dooba So Paar has done numerous shows, and I have heard from a host of people about its compelling storytelling but was never able to catch it until last month. And I am so glad I did! 

A Dastaangoi performance, blending music and storytelling seamlessly, the play follows the life of Amir Khusrau. We’re greeted by an energetic ensemble and an uplifting musical piece. The tablachi and the harmoniumist spring into action while the performers belt out a Qawalli, clapping along in perfect sync. The audience is quick to join in on the rhythm. Co-directors and performers, Ajitesh Gupta and Mohit Agarwal, start narrating where it all began, before slipping in and out of the various characters we’re about to meet.  

It’s the 13th century, and Abu’l Hasan Yamiduddin Khusrau has just been born in the village of Patiyali. As a child, Khusrau is gifted with words. While he has little interest in formal study, he can create a poem from any four random words. His father, proud of his son, wishes to take him to Delhi for further training, but passes away before he can. Yamiduddin’s mother fulfills his father’s last wish, and that’s how a young Khusrau lands on the sacred doorstep of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. And the rest, as they say, is history.

It is under the guidance of his pir, Auliya, that Khusrau begins writing poetry that speaks to the common man. His verses, deeply influenced by Sufi thought, and his music, uplifting and devotional. Widely considered the father of Urdu literature, Khusrau also gave the world the gift of Qawwali. His words, poetry, and music have reached countless devotees—and continue to resonate with people to this day.

The play draws primarily from these key moments in Khusrau’s life. It doesn’t aim to present a complete or exhaustive biography, and thankfully so. Rather than overtly declaring his greatness, Jo Dooba So Paar offers glimpses into what things may have been like. I for one walked out wanting to know more. And that ability to leave people wondering is what makes plays enjoyable.

Much of Jo Dooba So Paar’s beauty is in its simplicity. The banter and the camaraderie between Ajitesh and Mohit are almost textbook perfect. The duo are ably supported by the ensemble who play an integral role in creating lively scenes, with an energy that is infectious. The singing and the music design is superlative. It’s been a while since I have seen a strong music design, to be honest. 

I do feel however, that the light design could have been a bit more understated. Some choices felt a little too on-the-nose and dramatic. And while it did not take away from the story or the magic of the performance, a subtler, more nuanced design may have benefitted the show even more.

If you, like me, have been meaning to watch the play, but haven’t been able to make the time, please don’t let it pass you by the next time it’s playing in your city. The play promises to deliver on an entertaining evening, that is well researched, succinctly put together, with mesmerising music and performances that touch your heart.

As I watched the play, I also watched my fellow audience members. Seeing a room full of people, tapping their feet to Sufi music, singing along to Chaap Tilak made me feel as though we had all been transported to that very dargah of Nizammudin Auliya, where Khusrau became a name that would be etched in the history of music. And that is something you don’t experience every day.

Written by: Ajitesh Gupta Directed by: Ajitesh Gupta and Mohit AgarwalMusic: Mohit Agarwal

Harmonium: Mohit Agarwal and Ashish Mehra

Performers: Rattan Deep, Ashish Mishra, Jitendra Singh Rajput, Shalaka Redkar, Manasi Bhawalkar, Sonakshi Singh, Shimli Basu, Riged Singh Maurya, Mohit Agarwal & Ajitesh Gupta

Dholak: Mrunmay Chavan

Tabla: Naynesh Pimpale

Production: Sumit Chandel and Kamran Khan

About the reviewer: Srishti is passionate about all performing arts - music, dance and theatre. She primarily works with QTP as an associate producer and mentors the team running Thespo, QTP's youth theatre initiative. She loves the live medium of storytelling and finds joy in building shows!