From the heart: Faiz’s prose and verse with a dash of humour

Ajoka pays tribute to legendary poet through ‘Rozan-e-Zindaan Se’.


Maha Mussadaq March 23, 2013
Naeem Tahir played Faiz and read out the latter’s verse with conviction (right). The play would not have been the same without Nighat Chaughry’s breathtaking performances. PHOTO: THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE

ISLAMABAD:


From the darkest days of poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s life came the inspiration for the stage play “Rozan-e-Zindan Se”, which captivated the hearts and minds of theatre goers on Thursday evening.


The mesmerising production by Ajoka Theatre featured Naeem Tahir as Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Yasmin Tahir as the poet’s wife Alys, as it narrates the story of Faiz’s experience during his time in prison after the Rawalpindi conspiracy case. As the actors sat on two corners of the stage on desks — one at their home and the other in prison — they read “Zindanama” and “Dast-e-tahi-sang” which were written by Faiz to wife Alys between 1951 and 1955. The letters give a rare insight to their relationship and its basis in love, commitment and dedication.

Alys’s letters speak about her struggle to be a strong wife, responsible mother and a working woman in those times, her character and writings depict feelings of faith and commitment, while Faiz reveals his love for his family, his city and nature.

A mix of romance with a dash of humour the English and Urdu prose reveal true emotions in the most profound manner. Naeem Tahir read out the prose with his deep voice in such a convincing way that one would be convinced it was Faiz himself. Humble actor Yasmin Tahir made a comeback on stage after decades but showed no signs of rust as she left the audience in awe.



But the play would have not been the same without breathtaking performances by dancers Nighat Chaudhry and Wahab Shah. Their performances on audio recordings of Faiz’s poems, sung and recited by Tina Sani, Zia Muhayuddin, Noor Jehan, Nayyara Noor, Iqbal Bano, Radhika Chopra and Runa Laila gave the play the uplift that it needed.

Director Madeeha Gohar said that the selection of female vocals was deliberate.

“The event and to pay homage to the legendary poet and the singers who contributed immensely to society and culture” she explained. Using different props such as glow sticks and a number of different outfits, Chaudhry and Shah filled the blank space which was needed to complete the play.

“I thought it was well done. The pauses, pronunciation and emphasis was all very apt, and the intrinsic value of the letters was of course very romantic, historical and political,” said Mustafa Hyder Sayed. “It takes us back in times of love and struggle and shows how loyal people were with their commitments, something we don’t see nowadays,” said Ayesha Saleem. “A good effort and a must watch for Urdu poetry lovers,” she added.

The two days of performances by Ajoka Theatre marked the group’s return to the capital after a two-year hiatus. Gohar said that the group wishes to return soon and more frequently.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2013.

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