Theatre for Peace Festival Plays from Pakistan

Culture is a great leveler. Even as India and Pakistan are on edge with each other, there is always an avid audience in India for Pakistani music, theatre and films.  Unsurprisingly, expectations ran high recently when Lahore -based Ajoka Theatre brought four productions to Delhi for its four-day Theatre for Peace Festival. Under the banner of "Humsaya", Ajoka ('contemporary' in Punjabi) won many hearts with its presentations of "Bullah", "Dara", "Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh" and "Lo Basant Ayee"

"Bullah" is based on the life and turbulent times of great Sufi mystic Bulleh Shah (1680-1758). Drawing on Bulleh Shah's poetry, historical records and popular myths about the mystic, the play touches a sensitive chord with its message of tolerance, humanism and love at a time when the world threatens to implode with violence, vicious civil wars, bloody rebellions, religious extremism and racist bigotry.

Another unforgettable character, Dara Shikoh is recreated in "Dara". The play mirrors the bitter war of succession between Prince Aurangzeb and Prince Dara Shikoh, the sons of Emperor Shah Jahan.  While the erudite Dara is pictured as a sensitive artist, Sufi, a lover of the arts he is killed by his ruthless brother Aurangzeb. Ironically the world remembers Aurangzeb even as Dara has been consigned to oblivion.

Great Urdu short story writer Saadat Hassan Manto, is the subject of "Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh". The play revolves around Manto's life, work and events after his migration to post Partition Pakistan in 1949. Manto's horror of the communal riots is reflected in his bold writings. Manto meets with hostility from both the progressive and rightist intellectuals and fundamentalists. The play echoes Manto's hard-hitting essays about the upsurge in fundamentalism in Pakistan and insidious imperialism.

"Lo Phir Basant Ayee" is a political satire. Reflecting the Pakistani ban on the kite flying festival during Basant, the play shows how intolerance makes a mockery of religion.

The festival is organised by Routes 2 Roots, an NGO that aims to promote a connection between people through the world via art, culture, heritage and education.