Magic, sorcery, warriors, and tricksters came together for two evenings at the Asia Society, in the vividly told stories of Dastangoi: The Adventures of Amir Hamza, bringing to life the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle Amir Hamza.

Iconic film actor Naseeruddin Shah along with Mahmood Farooqui and Danish Husain performed this ancient form of Urdu storytelling. Together, they created a fascinating tableau through a combination of poetry and acting.

Hailed by critics as “an enthralling revival of a dying tradition” (Dawn Magazine), dastangoi is a rich form of dramatized Urdu storytelling that dates back to medieval Iran (Persia) that has recently regained critical acclaim due to the work of distinguished scholar Mahmood Farooqui.

In Urdu with English subtitles.

For more detailed information on the stories that were presented in these special performances, please see The Magical Tale of Hoshruba, a Dastangoi Classic by writer, translator and Dastangoi expert Musharraf Ali Farooqi.

Dastangoi is made possible through the generous support of Citi Foundation and Amita and Purnendu Chatterjee.