Retold Stories

Malika Pukhraj's iconic rendition of Hafeez Jalandhari's urdu nazm ‘Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hun’ made them both legends in Indian sub-continent.

Lyrics explained.

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 01

Will Alibaba’s fearful mind risk danger?

Fear clouds opportunities, time & reflection reveal them.

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 02

Alibaba stole from thieves. Is stealing from thieves wrong?

Beliefs are dangerous, yet useful. Why?

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 03

Qasim's clever wife stumbles upon Alibaba's secret. This strains their relationship.

Trust once lost, is not easily regained.

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 04

Qasim gets to the treasure, but can he get it out?

Stressed minds make mistakes. Mistakes can be fatal.

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 05

With slave-girl Marjina, Alibaba plans full Islamic burial rites for Qasim, but how to avoid suspicion?

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 06

Marjina convinces the Haqeem that Qasim is very sick & then Mustafa to go blindfolded to sew the corpse.

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 07

Alibaba observes Qasim's full mourning rituals.

But why wash a dead body if you bury or burn it anyway?

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 08

With mutual distrust growing, thieves widen their search and discover Mustafa.

He tells a noteworthy tale...

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 09

The blindfolded Mustafa leads the thief to Alibaba's house.

The home is marked, but Marjina foils the ID.

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 10

Another bandit marks Alibaba’s house but Marjina is vigilant.

Rosh discusses Dozakh, Jannat, Life, death...

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 11

Captain of the thieves identifies Alibaba’s house & returns to hatch a deadly plan.

Death comes knocking...

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 12

Discovering thieves hidden in oil barrels frightens Marjina to death.

Could one literally die from fear?

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 13

What could Marjina do to save Alibaba's household?

Throw boiling water on hidden bandits? Burn barrels?

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba and 40 Thieves - 17

Marjina executes her daring plan.

Hosh explains how burns can kill or affect health and how to treat them.

Retold Arabian Nights tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 18

Alibaba went to the Hammam completely unaware of the silent executioner working stealthily in his house.

Retold Arabian Nights tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 19

Alibaba gratefully gifts Marjina her freedom, and sets about disposing the 37 corpses quickly & quietly.

Retold Arabian Nights tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 21

Thirst for vengeance rejuvenates the Captain.

He rides back to the city to discover more about his enemy

Retold Arabian Nights tale: Ali Baba And 40 Thieves - 22

Impostor Khwaja Hasan comes to Alibaba's party but won't eat their salt.

Like Marjina, Josh wonders why?

Retold Arabian Nights Tale: Ali Baba and 40 Thieves - 23

Marjina investigates their enigmatic guest & performs a dazzling sword belly dance