Play: Rustam and Sohrab hit capital stage

ISLAMABAD:

Rustam-o-Sohrab, a masterpiece of Urdu literature, was staged on Thursday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

Written in 1930, the plot of the play was taken from the story of Rustam and Sohrab in Persian poet Ferdowsi’s famed Shahnameh.

The story — which hinges on Rustam, a fictionalised version of the great Persian general of the same name, unknowingly slaying his son Sohrab in battle — highlights the value of integrity and self-esteem while showing the natural, cultural and traditional values that bridge the gap between the two thoughts.

PNCA and the Ministry of National Heritage and Integration collaborated with Azad Theatre to present the play, which was adapted for the stage by Agha Hashar and directed by Malik Aslam.

PNCA Director General Tauqeer Nasir told APP that the council aims to provide quality entertainment to people with plays that promote healthy activities among youngsters and help revive the tradition of theatre in the twin cities.

“Stage drama is a strong medium of education and occupies a unique place among performing arts. It reflects and identifies social evils [while entertaining the audience].”

The PNCA promotes its own plays while also providing a platform to private theatre groups to showcase their skills and promote the tradition of classical theatre, he added. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.