Mid-day 44th anniversary special: This theatre actor from Kolkata has managed to find his feet in Mumbai despite the pandemic

Atif Ally Dagman at Prithvi theatre. Pic/Aishwarya Deodhar

The city of Mumbai is teeming with dreamers. From Shah Rukh Khan to the latest arrival at Dadar's crowded railway station, everyone hopes that the city will offer them a path to their dreams. Twenty-five-year-old Atif Ally Dagman knew that. But the actor-director had a more practical approach to it.

Earlier this month, Dagman made his first breakthrough by debuting with his solo-act play, Miah Boy Diaries to critical praise at Prithvi Theatre's Thespo Festival. "It is hallowed ground for any theatre artiste," he tells us pointedly. The play's houseful response was a delayed fulfilment for the writer who crafted it back in 2020. "I had always wanted to write something for the festival, and the pandemic gave me an opportunity," he remarks.

The play was a journey of self-discovery for the formerly Kolkata-based writer. "I started keeping a journal through the pandemic, which slowly evolved into this play," Dagman shares. Delving into personal, social and cultural identities, the play tells the story of a young Muslim writer trying to find his space in a changed India. His reflections echo the voice of his grandfather's Partition experience, adding context to the journey.

Writing was an inevitable part of his life story, Dagman reveals. Having started his tryst with theatre during his graduate years at the Heritage Academy in Kolkata, he says, "Every city has its own style and form of theatre. In Kolkata, it comes imbued with a sense of political awareness and action." And so, he applied to Thespo in 2020. It took another two years before the play finally went on stage.

His early introduction to the stage in Mumbai was flashy. The actor was part of the ensemble for the musical, Aladdin, that performed in the city. "I played one of Aladdin's friends," he reveals. The glamorous production and flashy costumes typified his perception of the city. He observes, "In Mumbai, theatre is often accompanied by a focus on production. Writers and actors pay attention to commercial viability, too." Dagman feels this is understandable if you consider the rising cost of living in the city of dreams.

The financial challenge did not deter him when he decided to finally move to the city of dreams. The move was always in the pipeline since his first application to Thespo in the pandemic, he says. After finding a job at a casting agency, he set about building a network of friends and people.

Still, it proved a tough task. "The first two months were quite hard to deal with, in terms of finances," he admits. Despite the job and his familiarity with the city, Dagman's greatest hurdle was one that every bachelor in the city is familiar with - house-hunting.

"The first time I moved here, house-hunting was not the most comfortable experience. People would ask about my religion, caste and whether or not I am a bachelor. That is the holy trifecta when it comes to renters in this city," he laughs.

The struggle is part of the journey, he admits. For every Shah Rukh Khan, the city is witness to a million dreams that do not make it. It is a hallmark of the turbulent nature of life in Mumbai. "It is easy to be overwhelmed by the size of this city for someone new. But I had made peace with the fact that nothing was going to be straightforward. All I can do is put my best foot forward," he shares.

A year into his move, he is optimistic about the decision. After his first showing at Prithvi Theatre, he is already off on tour with the play. "I was lucky in some ways. I found a community that was happy to welcome me in, and gave me a sense of brotherhood. It might be tough, but it is comforting to be among people who understand the struggle," Dagman concludes.

Mumbai meri jaan?

Love about Mumbai The camaraderie and sense of community

Hate about Mumbai The city's weather. I wish it was better.

Expectations from Mumbai A space to express my ideas and myself

Did Mumbai live up to it? Yes, and more. It gave me a sense of belonging

Will it remain forever home? It already is