Bol

Ashhar Haque is a Dastango, storyteller, and casting director known for acclaimed films like Liars Dice and Tumbbad. Based in Delhi, he draws inspiration from its layered history and cultural richness. Rooted in the classical form of Dastangoi, his storytelling blends tradition with modern themes, creating immersive, musical, and meaningful performances that breathe new life into age-old tales.

Hailing from Mumbai, vocalist and instrumentalist Neil Khopkar is deeply rooted in the traditions of Hindustani classical music. A disciple of Vidushi Neela Bhagwat of the Gwalior Gharanathe oldest school in Hindustani music. Neil represents a lineage that traces back six generations to the gharanas founder. With a deep reverence for the purity of Gwalior Gayaki, Neil upholds its essence while skillfully engaging with contemporary sensibilities. His performances act as a bridge between heritage and innovation, offering audiences a timeless and transformative musical journey.

BOL: Voices that Stirred the Silence

Celebrating the Progressive Voices of Urdu Poetry.

Urdu poetry has often spoken in measured tones—saying what could not always be said directly. BOL: Voices that Stirred the Silence revisits this tradition through the works of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sahir Ludhianvi, Kaifi Azmi, Majaz, and Ali Sardar Jafri—poets whose verses carried both tenderness and quiet resolve. Through Nazms and Ghazals sung by Neil Khopkar, these poems return as living voices, rich with emotion and reflection. Interwoven with the art of Qissagoi by Ashhar Haque, the evening gently situates the poetry within its historical moment, while allowing it to resonate in the present. Rooted in memory yet open to the now, BOL invites reflection on listening, silence, and expression. It reminds us how poetry can endure constraint, travel across time, and continue to find new listeners. An evening where words linger—long after the last note fades.