‘Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge’ clean-bowls the audience

New play about Pakistani cricketers marrying Indian women has been playing to a packed hall in Lahore

LAHORE: A theatre play titled Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge is gaining much popularity in Lahore, highlighting the ongoing trend of Pakistani cricketers getting married to Indian women.

Hundreds and thousands of cricket and art enthusiasts have been thronging to the theatre to catch a glimpse of the new play. Currently being staged at Tamaseel Theatre, Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge has been written and directed by Malik Naseem Vicky, an established theatre actor himself. Vicky also stars in the play, alongside actors Goshi Khan, Guddu Kamal, Nasir Mastana and actor-dancer Mahak Noor.

Other than the much-publicised marriage of Shoaib Malik and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge also draws inspiration from the recent wedding of Hasan Ali with Dubai-based Indian expat Samiya Arzoo. The seemingly growing interest of local cricketers in Indian women and vice versa seems to have been picked up by Vicky as a competition amongst the sportsmen to bring home foreign wives.

According to sources, Tamaseel Theatre is has been jam-packed with viewers obsessing over the play’s satirical execution. With Vicky also being a stand-up comedian, writing on such a topic has given him an extra edge. Another one of the theatre star’s chart-busting plays has been last year’s sarcastic re-creation of Aamir Khan’s Bollywood super hit Dangal, which had the crowd in fits.

“The purpose of Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge is to tell the public that there is more than one reason our cricket team is considered one of the best ones in the world… this is why Indian girls have actively displayed interest in marrying our players,” Vicky told The Express Tribune, when asked about the dynamics of the play.

While exploring the current political scenario between India and Pakistan, Vicky said the play is but his expression of peace and a step towards providing comic relief in hard times. Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge also symbolically depicts the issue of Kashmir with the actors patriotically orating dialogues resonating with sympathy towards the situation.

“Theatres today need to produce content which isn’t repetitive and highlights similar social, national and international issues to meet the standards of public interest, whilst educating them as well,” he said. Vicky also credited the success to the audience, saying that it remains an active participant in an era of cinemas and Netflix and urging viewers to continue their ongoing support.

Cricketwalay Dulhania Le Aayenge is set to continue up until the end of this week, after which it will resume post the 12th of Muharram.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.