Punj Pani flows back in annals of history

By: Shoaib Ahmed

Dawn April 14, 2007.

LAHORE, April 13: The fourth Panj Pani Indo-Pak Theatre Festival titled ‘Reinterpreting history’ will open at Alhamra Art Centre on April 18 (Wednesday).

Ajoka Theatre has organised the six-day festival in collaboration with Lahore Arts Council.

Governor Khalid Maqbool will inaugurate the festival.

Madeeha Gauhar, the festival’s organiser, told Dawn the festival had been scheduled for March 23 to 31 but due to a delay in obtaining visas for Indian theatrical groups participating in the festival, the schedule of the event had to be changed.

She said seven Indian groups with 85 artistes would grace the festival.

Ms Gauhar said Indian theatre groups were from Bhopal, Calcutta, Delhi, Chandigarh, Mohali, Mogra and Amritsar.

She said top Indian theatre director and choreographer Bansi Kaul would also be part of the festival. Mr Kaul has done a musical play on Bhagat Kabir’s life. Ajoka’s plays Burqavaganza and Dukh Dariya would also be staged at the festival, she added. Ms Gauhar said Shahnaz, a Kashmiri woman on whose life Dukh Dariya was based, had died recently.

She said Off-Stage India, an Indian theatre group, would stage ‘Terrorist Di Pramika’ in Pakistan. Narinder Sharama from ‘Bhoomika India’ will perform in Lahore after 67 years. He performed in Lahore in 1944 last time at Open Air Theatre now called Bagh-e-Jinnah Open Air Theatre with Uday Shankar, brother of noted Sattar player Ravi Shankar.

On April 18, two performances will be held: Burqavaganza by Ajoka Theatre and Kahan Kabir by Rang Vidushak.

On April 19, three productions will be staged: a play by Interactive Theatre, Andar Bahar Manto by Manch Rang Manch and Tukay Pay Tuka by Rang Vidushak Theatre.

At Andar Bhahar Manto, Sadat Hasan Manto’s daughters will be chief guest.

On April 20, a discussion on ‘Reinterpreting history’ will be held at Alhamra Hall No 3 at 4pm. Later, two productions will be staged: Dukh Dariya by Ajoka and Amma by Alternative Theatre, India.

On April 21, Halla Bol by Ajoka, Pinjar by Adakarmanch Theatre, India, and Heer Ranjha by Bahawalpur Seraiki Theatre will be held.

On April 22, Udheek will be staged by Natara Theatre followed by ‘Terrorist Di Pramika’ by Off-Stage Theatre, and Bullah by Ajoka.

On the last day of the festival, Saaye, a Lahore Arts Council production, Antim Adyah by Bhoomika, an Indian theatre, and Halla Bol by Ajoka will be staged.

Ms Gauhar said Punj Pani or five waters would provide the people a contemporary view of Indian Punjab’s theatrical activities.

The festival is held by the All Punjab Performing Artistes Network.

She said the idea of establishing the network of performing artists from Indian and Pakistani Punjabs had emerged during Ajoka’s tour to Indian Punjab in November, 2003.

She said people of Pakistan and India had a common heritage and Ajoka through the festival had opened new avenues for friendship between the two countries.

She said Kewal Dhaliwal was the co-convener of the network.