The husband-wife artiste duo of Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar took a packed audience at the New London Theatre through the life and times of Shabana's versatile parents Kaifi and Shaukat Azmi, winning a standing ovation.

The unique play 'Kaifi Aur Main', is a celebration of the life and works of legendary Urdu poet and film lyricist Kaifi Azmi, as seen through the eyes of his wife, the noted theatre and film actress, Shaukat Azmi.

The show was presented by 'Sitaaray', a new restaurant at Drury Lane in Covent Garden set against a stunning cinematic background, celebrating 75 years of Indian Cinema, and operated by India's Old World Hospitality Private Limited along with the Barclays Wealth.

The 90-minute play, which is adapted from a book called 'Yaad Ki Rehguzar' written by Shaukat as well as interviews and writings of Kaifi Azmi, was brought to life by Javed and Shabana last night.

The play paid tribute to the illustrious Kaifi Azmi for his poetry, his work, his life and most of all his unending courage, despite a paralytic attack.

The play was written by Javed and directed by popular film and theatre director Ramesh Talwar.

Javed described as a "nostalgic experience" the restaurant's collection of rare photographs of a host of film stars from Madhubala to Aishwarya Rai and Raj Kapoor to Shah Rukh Khan.

"It is a tribute to my parents who met in Hyderabad, and it was here that their romance blossomed. Based on my mother's memoirs, Yaad ki Rahguzar, and accounts of people who knew them, Javed and I put together their story. It's the personal journey of two individuals against the backdrop of the society and politics of that time," Shabana said of the play.

"In several ways, our worldview is very similar to theirs. Somehow, their story is also a reflection of my relationship with Javed," Shabana said.

The actual story is interspersed with music from some of Kaifi Azmi's most famous film lyrics, from the classic 'waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam' from Kaagaz Ke Phool to 'tum itna jo muskura rahe ho' from Arth.

Shabana has starred in some memorable films - Ankur, Mandi, Arth, Godmother and Tehzeeb - and is the five-time winner of the National Award in the Best Actress category.

She recently received the 2006 Gandhi International Peace Prize for social work, specially for slum dwellers in Mumbai.

Akhtar, who has scripted many memorable films, has also won the coveted Filmfare Award 14 times for Best Lyrics and Best Script as well as the National Award five times including the Best Lyricist Award for three years in succession.

source:HINDU