Karachi enjoys 17 day programme of stage productions
371 views · Published 12 November 2018 · 4:59 · Indexed 22 October 2026
Channel: AP Archive · 2018 · News & Politics
(7 Nov 2018) LEADIN: Theatre performances are taking centre stage in Karachi as Pakistan's capital hosts a 17-day long festival. 20 plays are being featured - with ten performed in the national Urdu language and ten in regional Sindh. STORYLINE: The Sindh Theatre Festival opened November 2nd (2018) with 'Ullu and Mano,' an adaptation of the popular Broadway hit The Owl and the Pussycat. Saad Faridi plays the character of Shirazi, the bookstore clerk pretending to be an intellectual who has never had anything published. Alia Saad plays a professional escort who pretends to be a sought-after model and actress by the name of Anjuman Ara or Anju. "Basically, she is a call girl (prostitute), not a model. The point of this play is that we conceal our realities. Both characters in the play were pretending to be someone they weren't," says Saad. Directed by theatre veteran Anjum Ayaz, it seamlessly combines comedy and gut-wrenching angst to local tastes. "The play has moments, emotions, comedy, and there is also heartache. We have tempered the humour and comedy and tried to show the sadder versions of the self as well," says Faridi. While the auditorium was packed to capacity, organisers and attendees say theatre in Pakistan has often suffered from neglect over the years. However, it has experienced a resurgence in the last decade or so, with theatre becoming a viable profession. Government patronage has also helped, as in the case of the Sindh Theatre Festival, organised by provincial government for a third year now. Its line up features a diverse array of plays, including providing a platform for theatre performers from Sindh's smaller cities. The second day of the festival featured a Sindhi play, titled 'Fana Kiyo Firaq.' It tells the story of a girl from a village who returns after receiving education. Rimsha Shehzadi plays the role of the heroine Rani, who is threatened by the village chief's son to accept his marriage proposal or take responsibility for his suicide. Worried about the consequences it could have on her family, she agrees to the proposal of Nadir Shah (performed by director Syed Akbar Shah) but on one condition: he must remember by heart the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sindh's most popular poet. "I believe the work of Sindh's Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai can be pivotal in tackling the current increase in conflict and hatred. His work and verses contain the message of universal love and harmony. We have tried to convey his message so that the younger generation can benefit from it," says Akbar Shah. The story looks at female education, toxic masculinity and narrow-mindedness. It uses humour as well as harsh realities to make key points. "Fana Kayo Firaq has a very strong message particularly for this era of selfishness. It helps us realise what is good in us and what isn't," says Naushaba Siddiqui, who attended the performance. "They have illustrated beautifully and with simplicity the meaning and idea of love as described in Shah Jo Risalo (The Poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai) for people." The Sindh Theatre Festival runs until November 18. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/e74c9b430cb2cea1ad7c5a96bc98c355
