Centre stage: Rekindling the flame of yesteryears

Veteran television artist Nisar Qadri makes a comeback on stage at PNCA.

ISLAMABAD:

With the spotlight falling on new faces, a veteran television artist Nisar Qadri relived his charm on the stage at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Wednesday.

As a flashback to his shining career, he re-enacted a one-man short play titled “Machis hogi aapke paas?” (Would you have a matchbox?). The play borrowed references from many of his memorable performances, some of which were played on multimedia before the artist appeared on stage. Memorable clips from STN and PTV days were a trip down memory lane for ardent fans.

In the opening scene, a baffled Qadri paces around an empty newsroom, looking for somebody to give him a matchstick so that he can light the heater and a cigarette. Unable to find any help, he yells out to the audience “machis hogi apke paas,” to which select audience throw match boxes onto the stage. This delights him but not for too long as none of the matches would light. He rants and raves as to why any matchsticks lacks spark.

The matchstick reference is an indirect taunt to the people of the nation and unused potential. In a solemn tone, he says, “Ek machis ki taqat sei puray shehar ka choola jal sakta hai aur puray shehar ko aag lag sakti hai” (A single match can light a stove and set on fire the entire city).

A number of prominent members of the television fraternity were seen in the audience such as Director Farooq Abbas and Khalid Hafiz of Guest House fame. While commenting on the role of artists in the country, Hafiz said, “The government should support the old and ailing artists, who are unable to work, by allotting them small plots to help them sustain themselves.”

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