Diary of a bygone era: Khusro-inspired play to help preserve Urdu tradition

ISLAMABAD: Yasra Rizvi’s play “Diary” is based on her own life and inspired by the teachings of Ameer Khusro. Scheduled to open at Pakistan National Council of the Arts on February 2, the play aims to highlight the uniqueness of human nature and preserve the Urdu tradition.

According to Rizvi, the play depicts the route one has to take to achieve closure and the choice one has to make between passion and duty. The story revolves around the repercussions of such a choice and the silence that erects a wall between couples.

The play is set in Karachi during 1997, encasing the beginning of a new era. Internet, making inroads into society at the time, was forcing people to change and this is what Rizvi is trying to capture in her play.

Another aim of the play is to preserve the language and cultural heritage of Urdu. That is why Rizvi, a graduate of Westin Michigan University, draws upon Khusro for inspiration. Live musicians will recite Khusro’s poetry and classical dance will be incorporated into the performance to add a cultural zest to the event.

“A lot of productions nowadays cater to the young and savvy. There is not much available for the older generations,” said Rizvi.

“This play targets the audience that loved Pakistani drama during the 80’s and the 90’s,” she added.

With veteran actors like Fahim Azam Khan, Suleman Sunny and Mohsin Ejaz on board, the director is excited about the prospects of her production.

However, as the opening day looms closer it will take a lot more than just a fantastic script and seasoned actors to take the play off the pages and make it relatable to the audience.

With the last week of rehearsals underway, Rizvi is confident that the chemistry between the cast will grow and the actors will be able to embody the essence of their characters, bringing them to life.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th,  2011.