India, Oct. 12 -- Urdu writer Qurratulain Hyder's (1927-2007) novella 'Agle Janam Mohe Bitiyan Na Kijo' ('Don't have me reborn as a daughter in my next life') doesn't mince words. It's powerful, poetic and direct. The work, based on the life of two singer sisters, was published in 1963, and will be presented as a dramatic reading at the Cube in Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) today.

The four-performer, 75-minute act directed by Rasika Agashe, is not your typical play. There are no sets, no traditional acting or background score. Four actors will read from the novel as characters and narrators. "I started such readings with theatre actors and groups almost eight years ago," says Agashe. "Actors weren't reading the classics, so ...