Syed Iqbal offers namaz fivetimes, trains Ramleela artists

With pix

Prayagraj: Syed

Iqbal

Ahmed is an ardent Muslim who religiously fasts during the holy month of Ramzan and offers namaz five times in a day.

However, setting a perfect example of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, Iqbal has been imparting training to artists of the Katra Ramleela Committee to play their role with perfection and teaches the importance of face expressions and dialogue delivery.

Katra Ramleela is commencing from October 16.

And it’s not new, Iqbal has a long association with Ramleela, spanning past three decades, and has even played various roles in the Ramleelas at Daraganj and Rambagh.

“I have been associated with different Ramleela groups since 1980. I don’t act any more but right now I am teaching acting basics to actors playing various characters in the Ramleela at Katra,” said Iqbal.

“Apart from staging Daraganj ramleela, I had also played key role in taking out Hanuman Dal and performing Maa Kali swang at Daraganj,” he added.

Currently associated with Akashwani (Natak division) as an actor, the 70 year old artist, Iqbal Ahmad is still energetic and quite enthusiastic as he guides Ramleela artists to play their roles with perfection and leave a lasting impression on audience.

“For me, all people and religions are equal. I am still trying to be a good human being,” said Iqbal, who despite his age still actively participates in staging of Ramleela and has been doing so since the last 30 years.

Iqbal had also worked in several Bollywood movies, including Mohalla Assi, in which he played the role of a priest. He also played a lead role in the movie ‘Holy Fish’.

Old timers still remember the role of Kevat which Iqbal had played in Ramleela and left such an impression that people started calling him “Kevatraj”. Besides, Iqbal has also acted in over 5,000 plays.