JANAM’s Incomplete Love Story: Safdar’s Legacy in the Struggle for Employment

Kollam: As the 24th state conference of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) approaches, the streets of Kollam district come alive with a surge of energy, sparked by the revolutionary voice of Jana Natya Manch (JANAM). The legendary street theatre group, founded by the iconic Safdar Hashmi, has unleashed its latest play, An Incomplete Love Story of an Unemployed - Ek Berozgar Ki Adhuri Love Story, like a storm, stirring hearts and minds with its raw, unflinching power.

This new performance is a compelling and poignant narrative about a young unemployed woman whose life revolves around a passionate, all-consuming love—her love for employment. For this young woman, employment represents not just a means of survival, but an identity, a promise of security and a dignified existence. So strong is her bond with it that not even the objections of her parents can sway her.

But the story takes a sharp, painful turn. As the woman’s love for employment deepens, she is tragically swept into the vicious cycle of capitalism. In the backdrop of the country’s political landscape shifting under the control of a right-wing government, one that is firmly in the pocket of corporate interests, her dreams begin to unravel.

Employment—once a symbol of hope and stability—becomes a hollow promise, as the corporate-driven system she believes in slowly betrays her. The play powerfully exposes the reality of millions of Indians, whose hopes of stable jobs and a better future are crushed under the weight of corporate greed, political manipulation, and systemic exploitation.

Through JANAM’s masterful artistry, the play breathes life into the suffering and resilience of the working class. The woman’s incomplete love story is not hers alone; it mirrors the struggles of countless others trapped in a world where employment is no longer a source of pride but an elusive, fleeting dream.

Presented in JANAM’s signature street theatre style, the play’s raw emotion and urgency strike a deep chord, leaving audiences reflecting on the oppressive forces shaping their own lives.

At the heart of this performance lies the enduring spirit of Safdar Hashmi, whose legacy continues to inspire JANAM. A revolutionary artist-trade unionist, Safdar believed theatre was a weapon for social change. In 1973, he founded Jana Natya Manch with a vision to challenge injustice and amplify the voices of the marginalized. For him, theatre was never mere entertainment—it was a call to action, a means to provoke thought, ignite activism, and liberate the working class to fight for their rights.

Safdar’s spirit lives on in every JANAM performance, in every act of defiance staged on the streets, confronting power with art.

As the performance ends and the audience lingers, the voices of JANAM’s performers echo through the streets of Kollam. They carry forward Safdar Hashmi’s legacy, a reminder that art must speak truth to power. With every play, JANAM upholds the ideals Safdar fought for: justice, equality, and the relentless struggle for the rights of the working class. His vision of a better world lives on, alive in the hearts of those who refuse to let his message fade into silence.