Mansooruddin Faridi/New Delhi

Syed Sahil Agha’s interest in storytelling developed during his student life at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi.

He says what he likes about storytelling is that it is associated with Sufis and Khanqahs; it’s a medium of the message of peace and love, which instils patriotism, unity, and religious harmony, and nurtures the Ganga-Jamuni civilisation.

Today, he conducts storytelling programs in India and abroad. “I am happy and also content because this art provides spiritual solace,” says India’s famous storyteller.

Syed Sahil Agha during a performance

Born in 1982, Syed Sahil Agha graduated from Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, and later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Acting from Shri Ram Centre of Performing Arts, Delhi.

While his father, Syed Mansoor Agha, is a veteran Urdu journalist, he made a name for himself in the world of storytelling.

“I realised that people prefer listening over reading, so I thought stories should be narrated so that the public can become familiar with the past and also learn lessons from it.”

Syed Sahil Agha and other artists during a show

Interestingly, he first wrote a book, Dastan-e-Hind. Later, he presented the stories from the book in the form of videos. Initially, he was recognised as an author and soon stepped into storytelling.

Although the tradition of storytelling in India is many centuries old, this art had practically ended after the death of Mir Baqar Ali in 1928. However, in 2005, Shamsur Rahman Farooqi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Mahmood Farooqi revived it, he says.

Syed Sahil Agha’s aim is not just to narrate stories but also to promote Indian civilisation. He is among those artists who revived this ancient art and made it popular; from small gatherings of the elite and the literary people, he brought this art to the general public.

Syed Sahil Agha with posters of his shows

Nevertheless, he also gave traditional storytelling a new style. He introduced the concept of “Musical Storytelling”, in which Indian opera and classical music were combined with stories. This experiment was liked by people and made the art interesting for the new generation.

Syed Sahil Agha has presented many stories in India and abroad. Some of these are Dastan-e-Mahboob-e-Ilahi, Dastan-e-Amir Khusro, Dastan-e-Ghalib, Dastan-e-Dagh, Dastan-e-Meer, Dastan-e-Shaib Akhtar, Jashn-e-Javed Akhtar, stories of Delhi’s poets, Dastan-e-Aakhri Dastango, Dastan-e-Taqseem, Dastan-e-Ishq, Dastan-e-Fateh, Dastan-e-Sultan Salahuddin.

He has also appeared on television. He wrote and presented a special program for DD Urdu called Ghalib Amrao Begum. He also wrote and did storytelling for Zee Salaam, which was aired as a detailed series.

Syed Sahil Agha on the stage

Apart from television, he wrote for the Bollywood films Pari Khanah and Sanam Khanah. He says that hatred only immerses a person in pain and suffering, but these things are temporary. The feeling of love exists in everyone’s heart.

“When I come down from the stage, people hug me, regardless of their religion. This is very encouraging and creates the belief that whatever I did was good,” he says with great satisfaction.

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Sahil Agha's other passion is vintage cars. He has a collection of 50 pristine cars, including those once belonging to Rajas and Nawabs.