Mumbai: Ever felt goosebumps on watching someone perform on the stage? By stage, I mean a theatre act or a play. Many of you may not be aware that it is quite tougher to act in front of a live audience without any retakes like in the movies with several takes and edits. On January 25, Saturday, the first day of Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2025, I was lucky enough to witness such a mesmerising performance right in front of my eyes. I am glad that I chose to watch the ‘Meri Maa Ke Haath’ play enacted by brilliant Juhi Babbar Soni at Yashwantrao Chavan Centre Auditorium in South Mumbai.
Juhi Babbar Soni left me awestruck with her performance, unlike many others who came to watch the play. Such a fabulous artist, she is. Let us deep dive into the play, her performance, the writer of the play and the direction.
Meri Maa Ke Haath: An Ordinary Woman, An Extraordinary Journey
Meri Maa Ke Haath: An Ordinary Woman, An Extraordinary Journey is a play written by Nadira Zaheer Babbar and directed by Makarand Deshpande. The play depicts the story of Razia Sajjad Zaheer ( (15 October 1918 – 18 December 1979)—a remarkable woman who was a prolific writer, a devoted teacher, a brilliant cook, and a mother who inspired her daughters with resilience, wit, and strength, even in the toughest moments of life.
Juhi dressed in a normal saree and a complete getup like Razia Sajjad Zaheer performed the dramatised reading of the journey of Razia. From Razia’s days of struggle of managing her daughters alone when her husband Sajjad Zaheer was imprisoned in Pakistan till her death and everything beyond and above, Juhi left no stone unturned while bringing the character of Razia to life with emotions so perfectly depicted on stage in a long duration of 1 and half hours (from 4 to 5:30 pm, Jan 25). It is not easy to pull off a solo play for such a long duration but Juhi aced every emotion and moment with her phenomenal act. Actually, the play felt more than an act as if the protagonist is living the character she is portraying.
The spectacular artist that Juhi is, how efficiently she was able to switch emotions from crying to laughter to excitement when Razia (portrayed by Juhi) receives the news that her husband is returning to India from Pakistan.
A short clip from the play, ‘Meri Maa Ke Haath, however, the feeling of witnessing the act live on the stage by yourself is quite different and more impactful.
Juhi shared on her Instagram story that she was lucky enough to get the chance to bring her grandmother’s story to life on stage. Yes, Razia Sajjad Zaheer is her grandmother and the play is written by her mother, Nadira Zaheer Babbar. She adds that this was a rare and deeply emotional experience for her. In ‘Meri Maa Ke Haath,’ a heartfelt tribute, Juhi takes on the role of her Nani.
At the end of the play, Razia Sajjad Zaheer’s daughter and Juhi’s mother, Nadira Zaheer Babbar recited the poem- ‘Meri Maa Ke Haath’ that she wrote for her inspirational late mother.
About Razia Sajjad Zaheer
Razia Sajjad Zaheer (15 October 1918 – 18 December 1979) was a distinguished Indian Urdu writer, translator, and a key figure in the Progressive Writers Association. She received accolades such as the Uttar Pradesh Sahitya Akademi Award and the Soviet Land Nehru Award. Her contributions to Urdu literature and her role in the Progressive Writers Association have left an enduring legacy, reflecting her commitment to social issues and literary excellence.
At the age of 20, she married Sajjad Zaheer, a poet and communist activist who co-founded the Progressive Writers Association. Shortly after their marriage, Sajjad was imprisoned by the British for his revolutionary activities. During this period, Razia pursued a postgraduate degree from Allahabad University.
Razia began contributing short stories to journals like Phool, Tehzib-e-Nisvaan, and Ismat during her childhood. To support her family, she engaged in teaching, writing, and translating, completing approximately 40 translations into Urdu.
Notably, she translated Bertolt Brecht’s Life of Galileo and Siyaram Sharan Gupta’s Nari (published as Aurat by Sahitya Akademi). Her original works include the novella Sar-e-Sham (1953) and the novels, Kaante (1954) and Suman (1964). She also edited Nuqush-e-Zindan (1954), a collection of her husband’s prison letters.
Razia’s writings often addressed social issues, exploring class disparities and women’s oppression. Her short story ‘Neech’ delves into the relationship between a privileged woman and a fruit seller, highlighting the former’s journey to overcome her prejudices. Her works contributed to discussions on gender relations and the development of modern identities among women.
After her husband’s return from imprisonment in Pakistan in 1956, the family resided in Lucknow before moving to Delhi in 1964. Sajjad Zaheer passed away in 1973, and Razia continued her literary pursuits until she died in Delhi on 18 December 1979. Posthumously, her short story collections Zard Gulab (1981) and Allah De Banda Le (1984) were published.
Do watch the play at Prithvi Theatre, to be screened on February 1-2 to witness the amazing performance by Juhi Babbar Soni and the life story of iconic Razia Sajjad Zaheer.
At the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2025, Juhi Babbar Soni delivered a spellbinding performance in ‘Meri Maa Ke Haath,’ portraying her grandmother, Razia Sajjad Zaheer. The play, written by Nadira Zaheer Babbar, celebrates the life and legacy of the iconic Urdu writer, activist, trailblazer and a strong independent woman. Events Lifestyle News -Fashion Trends, Beauty Tips, Celebrity Party News, Relationship advice, Travel and Food Tips
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