The Tihar Players: A Prison Memoir

From acclaimed stage performer and scholar Mahmood Farooqui comes a radiant, profoundly moving memoir about art, survival, and unexpected redemption inside one of Asia’s largest prisons.

About the Book: None of the men in Mahmood Farooqui’s drama class had ever acted in a play, and most couldn't read or memorize a script. Yet, serving time for offenses ranging from minor infractions to heinous crimes, they showed up to his class in search of something powerful: respect and validation. What followed was the improbable launch of a wildly successful prison theater experiment.

During a dark chapter of his own life—jailed for a crime he steadfastly denied committing, and of which he was ultimately acquitted—Farooqui found himself on the other side of the bars. Breaking his silence, he turns his extraordinary lens on Tihar Prison. Written with the sharp eye of an erudite, meditative, and wickedly funny observer—as well as a voracious consumer of Russian literature and an indefatigable memorizer of epic poetry—The Tihar Players is a testament to human resilience, vulnerability, and the transformative power of art in the unlikeliest of places.

Key Features & Benefits:

• A Unique Perspective: Offers a rare, insider look at life inside Tihar Prison through the eyes of a brilliant scholar and artist.

• Powerful Memoir: A deeply personal and honest account of wrongful imprisonment, emotional endurance, and ultimate vindication.

• Inspiring Narrative: Documents a remarkable theatrical experiment that brought dignity and connection to men cut off from society.

• Literary Depth: Infused with references to classic literature, poetry, and a sharp, witty narrative voice that balances heartbreak with humor.