Building bridges: Ajoka Theatre making waves in India

Acting troupe’s performances well received in Chandigarh

LAHORE: As expected, Ajoka Theatre’s performances at the Hamsaya Theatre Festival in Chandigarh last week have won the hearts once again.

The Lahore-based acting troupe has been in the Indian city to participate in the five-day theatre extravaganza, which is being revered by the pre-partition generation in particular, for reviving their memories of the old Indian subcontinent.

According to a press release issued by Ajoka Theatre, this was the second Hamsaya Festival and proved to be just as successful as the first one. The festival was conducted by the Chandigarh Arts Council, in conjunction with Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi and groups such as Manch Rangmanch and Adakar Manch.

The Ajoka team performed renowned plays like Dara, Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh, Lo Phir Basant Ayee, Kabira Khara Bazaar Main and Anhi Maai da Sufna at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh, which boasts of a capacity of 900.

All plays opened to packed halls and concluded with multiple standing ovations.  The audience admired the themes and messages, as well as the troupe’s impeccable talent. In fact, dignitaries such as Chandigarh mayor Arun Sood and Chandigarh Arts Council chair Bibi Harjinder Kaur came to the festival to watch the plays.

Shahid Nadeem – executive director and head of Ajoka’s contingent to India – believes that the Humsaya Theatre Festival has helped break the ice between India and Pakistan, despite prevailing tensions on both sides of the border. According to him, the messages of peace and love written into the scripts of Kabira Khara Bazaar Main and Dara have diffused political and social tensions a bit and won the hearts of the Indian audience. He hopes that the two neighbouring countries continue to find common ground through the medium of theatre.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2016.

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