Lucknow
A Tribute to Vilayat Jafri – The Light Of Lucknow
A prominent theater personality, the father of light and sound program in India and Lucknow’s lovable, Vilayat Jafri, is no more. Vilayat Jafri believed Lucknow to be Love’s own ground. He used to say that if you want to learn and receive Love then understand Lucknow. Where the country has lost a famous theater personality, a son has been taken away from Lucknow’s lap.
He took his last breath in Mumbai at the age of 85. He died as a warrior by defeating covid but his health degraded and eventually took him away. His body was taken to his ancestral home on 7th October, 2020 for final rights.
A Life well lived
Vilayat Jafri is known as the founder of light and sound program, some of his best works include:
Vision 1919, India’s first light and sound program based on the Jallianwala Bagh incident, Badhte Kadam, presented in Beligarad, Lucknow, Purana Killa Delhi-1971, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Humayun Makbara Delhi- 1976, Ghalib Jahaj Mahal, Mahrauli Delhi-1978, Anarkali Chandigarh- 1980 and many more which were famous all over the country.
In 1986 he became the director of Akashvani Center Lucknow and in 1988 he took the spot of the director in Doordarshan Lucknow. During his time in Doordarshan, he marked the beginning of sponsored episodes. He was deeply attached to Lucknow and always considered Lucknow as the land of Love. On his passing away, many artists and his relatives are in grief.
“मुहब्बत तो सबने कभी न कभी, किसी न किसी से की होगी, लेकिन मुहब्बत की असल परिभाषा जाननी हो तो थोड़ा लखनऊ को समझ लीजिए। जैसे मुहब्बत में अपनी पहचान बरकरार रखते हुए प्रेमी एक-दूसरे में समा जाते हैं, जैसे गंगा और जमुना अलग दिखते हुए भी संगम में एक हो जाती हैं, वैसे ही लखनऊ भी है।“- Vilayat Jafri (Source: Dainik Bhaskar)
Vilayat Jafri has written 11 plays, various short stories, 10 books and created 22 light and sound programs, worked on numerous projects like ‘Neem ka ped’, ‘Tamas’, ‘Aadha Gaon’ and ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’ throughout his life, loving what he did and being one of the bests in it, he made a special place in people’s heart as well as the history of theater art.
“It was as if he lived and breathed Mirza Ghalib. His love for writing was such that even at the age of 84, he was ready to publish another book. When his show Badhte Kadam was performed at the Residency, it was such a big hit that it ran for over 5 months and 158 shows. He belonged to a family of freedom fighters, his great-grandfather being sentenced to death in 1857 during the freedom struggle. His experiences and legacy was clearly visible in his works,” said Rakesh, national general secretary of Indian People’s Theatre Association, Lucknow (Source: Times Of India)
Vilayat Jafri lived a life as an artist, doing what he loved and gaining respect and love from all across the country. ‘The Man of Light and Sound’ is no more with us, but the legacy he has left behind will always be there for the new generation of artists to follow and gain from. He had received Pride of Lucknow award for his great contribution to literary, theater and entertainment sector in India.
