Curtain raiser: Hussain the Weaver shows the power of poetry

Azad Theatre is staging a play on life and times of Shah Hussain

LAHORE:

The play Hussain the Weaver aims at demonstrating the power of poetry. Through his kafis, 16th century Punjabi poet Shah Hussain had established a huge following among people who lacked wealth and influence in the society, says Sarfraz Ansari, lead actor in Azad Theatre’s latest production.

The play is set to be staged at Alhamra on The Mall from Monday (today) to Wednesday.

Ansari says the play is based on the life and times of Shah Hussain. A sub-plot features the struggle of Dullah Bhatti. “Madho Laal Hussain’s poetry is revolutionary because it talks about the struggle of the common man and condemns discrimination on the basis of caste,” he says.



He says unlike Hussain, Dullah Bhatti led an armed struggle against injustices committed by Mughal ruler Jalaluddin Akbar’s administrators. “Both raised their voices against injustice.”

While Bhatti was hanged during Akbar’s reign, Hussain was never harmed despite a warrant issued by the administration for his arrest, says Ansari. He says the Mughal administration later appointed an official, Amir Bahar, to report on Hussain. He says there are opinions on the administration’s intention differ. “Some claim that it was done to keep an eye on Hussain’s activities. Others believe it was done out of reverence for the poet,” he says.

Ansari says they had chosen Hussain’s life and works because they felt that the issues raised by him were relevant to the contemporary Pakistani society. “The rich are getting richer as the poor find it even more difficult to sustain themselves,” he says. “The society remains divided based on class and religion. Hussain highlights these problems through his poetry,” he adds.

Ansari says the title was meant to reflect Hussain’s disregard for people who ridiculed him by calling him a weaver.

Azad Theatre has composed 17 kafis of Hussain which will be sung live during the play. The play is their 15th production.

The script is written by Shabbir Jee. Malik Aslam is the director.

The cast includes more than 20 people. Invitations for the play are available at Alhamra.

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