Anwar Maqsood’s Haaf Playt kicks off

Following the success of plays like Pawney Chauda August, Maqsood brings his TV show on to the stage.

KARACHI:

With huge successes like Pawnay Chauda August and Sawa Chauda August to his name, Anwar Maqsood has changed the face of Pakistani theatre.  There seems to be no looking back for the satirist who has spent around 45 years giving Pakistanis a reason to laugh at themselves. And it appears that the stage rendition of Haaf Playt will be no different.

The drama that aired on Pakistani television in the ’90s starred stalwarts such as Moin Akhtar, Khalida Riyasat, Arshad Mehmood, Jamshed Ansari, Badar Khalil and Lateef Kapadia. The stage rendition, however, includes a much younger and less experienced cast and will run at the Arts Council until  January 10.



“These legends gave their careers’ best performances in Haaf Playt, which is why this stage rendition is more of a tribute to all those actors who made it so special for me,” Maqsood said while speaking at a press conference over the weekend.

Maqsood was extremely grateful to the Arts Council, and spoke highly of the youngsters whose efforts have made him so relevant in 2013.

“I thought Pawnay Chaud August would run for Pawnay Chauda days, but it was unstoppable! Then came Sawa Chauda August, that ran for a 100 days in Karachi. It’s all because of these youngsters and the president of Arts Council,” says Maqsood.

Ahmad Shah, president of the Arts Council, was humbled by the kind words and stated that such opportunities were given to several passionate youngsters and senior artists but no one really capitalised on it the way Maqsood did.

Dawar Mehmood, the director of Haaf Playt, was both excited and nervous at the prospect of reviving such a beloved classic, but given that he has already pulled off Aangan Terha successfully on stage this doesn’t seem to be too big a challenge.



“In Aangan Terha, the character of Akbar was difficult to do justice to and we somehow made it possible. But in this one, it is an entire group of legends we’ll be trying to match. I think the shoes are too big for us to fill, but we have tried our level best,” Mehmood said at the press conference.

He shared that the pressure is greater this time around. Since Maqsood considers Haaf Playt his favourite play, he has to be extra cautious regarding all the nuances involved in translating a television play onto the stage.

Maqsood has always written for the masses, and the fact that tickets are priced in such a way that only a limited section of society can afford to see this stage play makes him extremely sad.

“I have always written for people who sleep on an empty stomach and have nothing to spend. InshAllah this time around we’ll be providing some sort of concessions for the students and educators at least,” he said.

After completing a one month run in Karachi from December 10 onwards, Haaf Playt will be performed in Lahore and Islamabad for two weeks each.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2013.

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