Agha Hashar Kashmiri

Agha Hashar Kashmiri

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Agha Hashar Kashmiri Profile

  • Name:
  • Agha Hashar Kashmiri
  • Born:
  • April 1, 1879
  • Died:
  • April 28, 1935

Agha Hashar Kashmiri Biography

Agha Hashar Kashmiri was a prominent Urdu writer, playwright and dramatist, who was known as "Shakespeare of Urdu." Lived in the pre-independent India during the period 3 April 1879 – 28 April 1935, he adapted many of Shakespeare plays to Urdu language and successfully staged as well. Though born in Amritsar of present day Punjab, he moved to Pakistan. A few of his adapted Shakespeare plays are Mureed-e-Kaash (A Winter's Tale, 1899), Shabeed-e-Naaz or Achuta Daaman in Hindi (Measure for Measure, 1902) and Shabeed-e-Havas (King John, 1907). He was a prominent dramatist in the pre-independent era of India.

 

His real name was Muhammad Shah. He was born on 1 April, 1879 in Amritsar, Punjab Province. Aftab-e-Muhabat was his first play published in the year 1897, with a strong influence of Parsi theater. Later he joined the theater troupe New Alfred theatrical company in Mumbai as a playwright with a monthly salary of 15 Indian rupees. He adapted Shakespeare's play The Winter's Tale to write Murid-e-Shak for the theater group. His debut play was a huge success and his salary was increased to rupees 40.Time after time this prolific writer became popular and he translated numerous Shakespearean plays to Indian adaptions. Later he turned a play director also.

 

In 1915 he adapted Shakespeare’s play The Daughter of a Jew and wrote its Indian version titled - Yahudi Ki Ladki. It became his most successful play till then. During the silent era and early talkie this play has been adapted multiple times on Indian screen. Apart from Shakespeare works, he has also contributed in the form of Indian epics and mythological stories. He started Shakespeare Theatrical Company, though couldn’t achieve success and later joined Maidan theatre, with which he has been associated for several years for many successful plays.

Published: N/A

Updated: March 27, 2016

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