Absolut Manto 2: A festival that celebrates the life and works of the legend
LAHORE: A two-day festival on the life and works of legendary short story writer Saadat Hassan Manto titled ‘Absolut Manto 2’ kicked off at Alhamra Art Centre on Friday.
The festival attracted a large audience. This was the second leg of last year’s critically acclaimed ‘Absolut Manto’.
Featuring Irfan Khoosat, Feryal Ali Gauhar, Sania Saeed and Sarmad Khoosat, the event was a unique opportunity to look at Manto through the dramatic readings of his short stories. Each reading had its own significance and maturity as all the artistes who went through the stories left no stone unturned in making it look like a solo performance in a play.
The event was aimed at celebrating ideas of tolerance, peace and humanity. It is important to remember artists who have made a mark in the country’s culture, literature and art.
The opening performance by actor Irfan Khoosat, who read Khol Do, spellbound the audience. His reading took the audience back to the time the story was set in.
Feryal Gauhar’s dramatic reading of Mochna was also outstanding; the way she described the role of Maya and read the story was impressive. Similarly, stories read by Sania Saeed and Sarmad were also powerful.
Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2016
