Hum Pakistan stages play based on flood victims
The aim of the event was to raise funds to help flood victims cope with the coming winter season.
LAHORE:
Kashti, a play set against the backdrop of the floods that hit Pakistan earlier this year, was staged by Hum Pakistan at Alhamra in the city on Thursday.
Hum Pakistan is the result of a collective effort by youngsters from different educational institutions in Lahore and has been formed to generate funds for flood victims. The aim of the event was to raise funds to help flood victims cope with the coming winter season.
The play follows the journey of two flood victims, Sajjad and Jamal. They are in a boat in a flooded area and are continuously rowing in an attempt to reach a safe location and save themselves. While they are in the boat they see two men struggling to swim in the swirling flood water and pull them into the boat as well. The two who they rescue are Chaudhry and his servant.
Chaudhry has food with him but refuses to share it with his dying servant or with Sajjad and Jamal, who become so enraged that they throw him overboard and steal his belongings. The servant is so saddened by this behaviour that he loses the will to live and dies.
Sajjad and Jamal continue to row and see a girl, Sakina, being dragged along with the current. They pull her out of the water and the three discuss their lives which have been thrown into confusion by the floods. However, this comes to an end when the two men try to rape Sakina, who jumps into the water to escape from them and drowns.
The play ends on a sad note with Jamal and Sajjad feeling the guilt of what they have done and although they survive, they too feel like a part of them has died.
All the members of the cast and crew were from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) and National College of Arts (NCA). Because all of the performers were amateurs, the production had some major flaws such as the story line being somewhat weak and ending very abruptly. The set was average but monotonous as it only showed a boat on stage which didn’t change for the entire duration of the play. There were also some problems with the lighting but overall the audience appreciated the performance which was an effort by students to bring light to the troubles faced by those affected by the floods and simultaneously raise funds for them.
Umair Ashfaq, one of the directors, told The Express Tribune that this was Hum Pakistan’s first play and they would improve in their future performances. Maria Hashmi, who is one of the main organisers in Hum Pakistan, said they would keep organising plays and concerts to help flood victims. “This is our first performance but this is not going to be the last. It’s just a start and we hope to improve with every performance,” she said.
Syed Asim Zubair, the marketing head of the project, said, “We have tried to come up with something different. A lot of non-governmental organisations came forward to help flood victims and we think this is the time to help flood victims more because winter is approaching. The response from people has been very positive and we plan to continue in our efforts.”
The last performance of the play will be held at Alhamra Hall 2, Mall Road, on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2010.
Kashti, a play set against the backdrop of the floods that hit Pakistan earlier this year, was staged by Hum Pakistan at Alhamra in the city on Thursday.
Hum Pakistan is the result of a collective effort by youngsters from different educational institutions in Lahore and has been formed to generate funds for flood victims. The aim of the event was to raise funds to help flood victims cope with the coming winter season.
The play follows the journey of two flood victims, Sajjad and Jamal. They are in a boat in a flooded area and are continuously rowing in an attempt to reach a safe location and save themselves. While they are in the boat they see two men struggling to swim in the swirling flood water and pull them into the boat as well. The two who they rescue are Chaudhry and his servant.
Chaudhry has food with him but refuses to share it with his dying servant or with Sajjad and Jamal, who become so enraged that they throw him overboard and steal his belongings. The servant is so saddened by this behaviour that he loses the will to live and dies.
Sajjad and Jamal continue to row and see a girl, Sakina, being dragged along with the current. They pull her out of the water and the three discuss their lives which have been thrown into confusion by the floods. However, this comes to an end when the two men try to rape Sakina, who jumps into the water to escape from them and drowns.
The play ends on a sad note with Jamal and Sajjad feeling the guilt of what they have done and although they survive, they too feel like a part of them has died.
All the members of the cast and crew were from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (Lums) and National College of Arts (NCA). Because all of the performers were amateurs, the production had some major flaws such as the story line being somewhat weak and ending very abruptly. The set was average but monotonous as it only showed a boat on stage which didn’t change for the entire duration of the play. There were also some problems with the lighting but overall the audience appreciated the performance which was an effort by students to bring light to the troubles faced by those affected by the floods and simultaneously raise funds for them.
Umair Ashfaq, one of the directors, told The Express Tribune that this was Hum Pakistan’s first play and they would improve in their future performances. Maria Hashmi, who is one of the main organisers in Hum Pakistan, said they would keep organising plays and concerts to help flood victims. “This is our first performance but this is not going to be the last. It’s just a start and we hope to improve with every performance,” she said.
Syed Asim Zubair, the marketing head of the project, said, “We have tried to come up with something different. A lot of non-governmental organisations came forward to help flood victims and we think this is the time to help flood victims more because winter is approaching. The response from people has been very positive and we plan to continue in our efforts.”
The last performance of the play will be held at Alhamra Hall 2, Mall Road, on Saturday.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 27th, 2010.