A little something for children

Napa set to stage ‘Choti, Moti, Tota aur S M Hamid’ as part of I Am Karachi’s campaign

KARACHI: The National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) may have found the ideal children’s play to support the I Am Karachi initiative, which attempts to reclaim the city’s public spaces. Titled Choti, Moti, Tota aur S M Hamid, first performed by Grips Theatre Pakistan years ago, the play follows the story of a group of children, who want more playground and places to play in.

Zain Ahmed, artistic director of Napa repertory Theatre (NRT), said the company decided to perform this play as it is in line with I Am Karachi’s current campaign of reclaiming Karachi’s public spaces. Of the play’s storyline, he shared, “The plot is simple. It revolves around a group of children, who want more playgrounds, but their efforts are hampered by adults.” He said the team has made a few changes to the original script to make it more relevant to present-day society.

The play has been adapted by playwright Imran Aslam and will be directed by Napa graduate Hammad Sartaj. Khalid Anum, who starred in the Grips Theatre production and will serve as music producer for Napa’s rendition of the play, stated that although made for children, the show will be enjoyable for people of all ages. “Grips Theatre plays have a socio-political undertone to them,” he said. On providing a background score for the play, Anum stated, “Most plays by Grips Theatre feature music because it helps in the progression of the story.” Apart from lending music, he will be seen acting in a few shows.



As with Napa’s previous children’s plays, such as Alladin and Ali Baba aur Chalees Chor, the play will be performed every Sunday from May 17 till the beginning of Ramazan. Choti, Moti, Total aur S M Hamid will be staged following Aladdin, which recently finished its run in Napa and is currently being performed in schools. Ahmed hopes to take the play to different schools across the city as well. He shared that if the shows are successful, the NRT will consider adapting other plays performed by the Grips Theatre.

In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Ahmed had spoken about the importance of doing plays for children. “Today, children have no live entertainment. There are no puppet shows or music shows happening in the country. The only source of entertainment for them is watching cartoons, such as Chota Bheem and Batman, and there is no local content.”

Khalid Anum will serve as music producer for Napa’s rendition of the play and will also be seen acting in a few shows.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2015.

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