Ajoka to stage play on Manto
Shows writer dealing with his opponents, how they malign his character
Actors perform in a play at the PNCA. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Ajoka Theatre’s play Kaun Hai Ye Gustakh, staged at PNCA on Monday, brought to life the opposition progressive writer Saadat Hasan Manto faced for wrting about social issues which were considered taboos during his time.
This is the ninth play of ongoing National Theatre Festival, 2017. The play is written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by Madiha Gohar and is being presented under the banner of Ajoka Theater.
The story revolves around Manto, the iconic Urdu fiction writer of the subcontinent. He was shown dealing with his opponents, how they malign his character and his writings, how these oppressors hide their own fear of not being able to deal with his way of expressing society in a blunt and bold way, and writing about its weaknesses and social and moral evils.
The play includes abstracts from many of Manto’s own stories. The craftsmanship of the artists was worth seeing as they kept the audience stand still due to their gestures and dialogue delivery.
The audience appreciated the performance and efforts of PNCA for promotion of serious theatre.
Viewers were of the opinion that theatre with a cause is the need of the hour. The month long festival is aimed to provide opportunity to the theatre groups from all over Pakistan. Javed Babar from Peshawar will present Inquiry Officer on November 7 and Sabir Khan will present Ek Boond Zindagi on November 8.
Blood and carpet
On Sunday evening, a classic short story by Meerza Adeeb entitled ‘La’hu aur Qaleen’ (Blood and Carpet)was staged by the Batin Farooqi Production House. Directed by Batin Farooqi, the cast of the play included Batin Farooqi and Sabir Khan in the main roles while the supporting artists were Nasir Walliam, Imtaiz Ali Kashif, Mishal, Sobia, Imran Rushdi, Shahzad Pappu, Mona, Javed Chaudhary, Karim Khan, and Seema Jatt.
The play was a story of a marginalised painter Akhtar who could not make any paintings when adopted by a rich person Tajammal whereas another poor artist Niazi helps Akhtar by making art on his behalf that could earn sufficient money to both.
At the drop scene, Akhtar tells the rich man that all the paintings were made by Niazi who has committed suicide after hearing the news that Akhar has won the prestigious award on his artwork.
Another marvellous play was ‘kafan’(shroud) staged by the Lahore-based Mass Foundation. The play was an adaptation from the classic short-story by the renowned Urdu fiction writer Munshi Premchand. Aamir Nawaz directed the play while the cast included Dr Zoya Qazi, Safina Malik, Muhammad Zaheer Taj, Afzaal nabi, Aamir Ali, Tanvir Khalid, Ahmed Ali, and Mujtaba Sheikh.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2017.
Ajoka Theatre’s play Kaun Hai Ye Gustakh, staged at PNCA on Monday, brought to life the opposition progressive writer Saadat Hasan Manto faced for wrting about social issues which were considered taboos during his time.
This is the ninth play of ongoing National Theatre Festival, 2017. The play is written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by Madiha Gohar and is being presented under the banner of Ajoka Theater.
The story revolves around Manto, the iconic Urdu fiction writer of the subcontinent. He was shown dealing with his opponents, how they malign his character and his writings, how these oppressors hide their own fear of not being able to deal with his way of expressing society in a blunt and bold way, and writing about its weaknesses and social and moral evils.
The play includes abstracts from many of Manto’s own stories. The craftsmanship of the artists was worth seeing as they kept the audience stand still due to their gestures and dialogue delivery.
The audience appreciated the performance and efforts of PNCA for promotion of serious theatre.
Viewers were of the opinion that theatre with a cause is the need of the hour. The month long festival is aimed to provide opportunity to the theatre groups from all over Pakistan. Javed Babar from Peshawar will present Inquiry Officer on November 7 and Sabir Khan will present Ek Boond Zindagi on November 8.
Blood and carpet
On Sunday evening, a classic short story by Meerza Adeeb entitled ‘La’hu aur Qaleen’ (Blood and Carpet)was staged by the Batin Farooqi Production House. Directed by Batin Farooqi, the cast of the play included Batin Farooqi and Sabir Khan in the main roles while the supporting artists were Nasir Walliam, Imtaiz Ali Kashif, Mishal, Sobia, Imran Rushdi, Shahzad Pappu, Mona, Javed Chaudhary, Karim Khan, and Seema Jatt.
The play was a story of a marginalised painter Akhtar who could not make any paintings when adopted by a rich person Tajammal whereas another poor artist Niazi helps Akhtar by making art on his behalf that could earn sufficient money to both.
At the drop scene, Akhtar tells the rich man that all the paintings were made by Niazi who has committed suicide after hearing the news that Akhar has won the prestigious award on his artwork.
Another marvellous play was ‘kafan’(shroud) staged by the Lahore-based Mass Foundation. The play was an adaptation from the classic short-story by the renowned Urdu fiction writer Munshi Premchand. Aamir Nawaz directed the play while the cast included Dr Zoya Qazi, Safina Malik, Muhammad Zaheer Taj, Afzaal nabi, Aamir Ali, Tanvir Khalid, Ahmed Ali, and Mujtaba Sheikh.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2017.