NAPA actors delight KU students with theatre

KARACHI:

As the lights dimmed and the act began, the jam-packed hall in Karachi University (KU) fell silent. A play was being performed, which started by showing a poet stuck under a fallen tree, beseeching passers-by for help.

A passer-by tries to pull him out but fails, and goes to a minister’s house situated nearby asking for help. But government officials keep delaying any rescue operation by transferring applications from one department to the other.

The play “Bari Der Ki Meherbaan Atay Atay”, based on Krishna Chandar’s short story “Jamun Ka Pair” was held at KU on Wednesday. The short play was organised by a group of students in their third year at the Department of Psychology under the supervision of assistant professor Farah Iqbal and collaboration with ‘Whistle Blowers’, a group of actors from the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa).

Witty dialogues, perfect comic timing and marvellous acting had the audience in fits of laughter. But the humorous play ended in tragedy, when the permission for the rescue operation for the trapped poet arrives after hours, long after the poet is dead.

“The play was amazing. It perfectly portrayed the dilemma of our society, where a file keeps on rotating from one table to another and no one’s willing to solve the problem,” said Shahzeen Sohail, a student from the audience.

Another audience member, Bushra Subhani said, “A play is a great way to transmit a message. Students normally get bored of workshops and seminars but raising such social issues in a humorous and interesting way can help engrave it in their minds.”

While introducing his team that comprises students from different universities, the actor-director of the play Mansoor Ahmed Khan said, “I was so scared to perform in front of such a huge audience and big names of showbiz but the audience’s cheers and applause shows that they liked our act.” He further gave credit to his team, saying that only team effort can make theatre successful.

The play, which depicts the red-tapism embedded deep into our system that prevents issues from being resolved in time, was followed by a panel discussion.

The panel consisted of some prominent names, such as actor Sania Saeed, Professor of Psychology Department and Consultant Clinical Psychologist Haider Rizvi, Vice President of The Citizens Foundation (TCF) Riaz Kamlani, eminent educationalist Naeem Janjua, actor-host Paras Masroor, professor of sociology department Fateh Muhammad and actor-host-VJ Salman Saqib aka Mani.

Commenting on the play, student of psychology department and actor Sania Saeed compliments the actors on their marvellous performance and says, “In old times, teachers never thought that dramas and plays could be such an influential source of teaching but I am delighted to see that this perception has changed and students and teachers have taken this initiative.”

She further praises the act saying that in this era of technology, the team of actors chose a classic work; this way our youth is appreciating and promoting our literature.

After congratulating the team of actors, Napa graduate, host of TV show “Koi Dekhay Na Dekhay Shabir To Dekhay Ga” and alumni of Department of Mass Communication, KU, Paras Masroor says, “Theatre helps pin point some pressing problems of society in an interesting manner which leaves a lasting impact on people’s minds.”

Fateh Muhammad too believes when acting is based on true reality issues of the society then it becomes a master piece. He appreciated the play and called the actors true talent of Pakistan.

Ifrah Zafar, one of the organisers, believes, “People need to watch literature, feel the culture and learn from it.” She tells The Express Tribune that the money collected from the event will be donated to charity.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2012.

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