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Ajoka leaves for Amritsar to perform at Partition-themed theatre fest

Ajoka leaves for Amritsar to perform at Partition-themed theatre fest

Ajoka Theatre will perform three plays — Mera Rang De Basanti Chola, Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh and Anhi Maai Da Sufna
16 Mar, 2017

A 20-member Ajoka Theatre team comprising artists and technicians left for India through Wagah border on Wednesday to participate in a festival there, says a press release.

The six-day festival is being organised in collaboration with an Amritsar-based theatre group, Manch Rang Manch. During the festival, a total of six plays will be performed at two venues -- Virsa Vihaar cultural centre and Amritsar Art Gallery.

The theme of the festival is “Revisiting Partition” in view of the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Partition and independence.

“This is a declaration that artists reject politics of confrontation and hate and are determined to promote peace between the people of India and Pakistan.” — Shahid Nadeem, Ajoka’s Executive Director

Ajoka team will perform three plays -- Mera Rang De Basanti Chola, Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh and Anhi Maai Da Sufna. All of the plays are based on real life stories and depict the anguish, pain and suffering of the era of Partition.

Two prominent Indian theatre groups Manch Rang Manch and Chandigarh’s Adakaar Manch will also perform Pul Sirat, Ik Si Manto and Amar Katha during the festival. A seminar on “Partition and Theatre” will also be held on March 20 at the Virsa Vihar. Eminent theatre personalities from India and Pakistan will speak at the seminar.

Before leaving for Amritsar, Ajoka’s Executive Director Shahid Nadeem said: “Holding of an Indo-Pak theatre festival has acquired more significance in view of the ongoing tensions at the border and antagonism between the two governments. This is a declaration that artists reject politics of confrontation and hate and are determined to promote peace between the people of India and Pakistan.”

The festival will be followed by Ajoka’s tour of Indian Punjab where the group will stage its play Anhi Mai Da Sufna (The blind old woman’s dream), which is about the generations separated by the 1947 Partition. The play will be performed in Jalandhar, Patiala, Chandigarh and Amritsar.


Originally published in Dawn, March 16th, 2017

Comments

dr.arshad Mar 16, 2017 09:52am
Wonderful! I can visualize Ajoka making a drama on an Indian chai wala's dream of forming lasting friendship with Pakistanis.
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Syed irfan ali Mar 16, 2017 10:16am
All the best to Ajoka and the legendary couple Shahid Nadeem and Madeeha Gohar. More power to them and our country's civil society.
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HEMANT KULKARNI Mar 16, 2017 10:26am
Welcome to India............. now does credit goes to Modi ?? because if they were not allowed to perform then all the blame should have been for Modi..
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Saif Zulfiqar Mar 16, 2017 11:38am
Punjab has more sofisticated audience than Maharashtra.
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saqib Mar 16, 2017 12:56pm
this topic has been milked dry, it's about time they come up with something new, novel
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Shirodkar Goa Mar 16, 2017 05:39pm
@HEMANT KULKARNI M00dyji just takes credits, failures goes to party workers, criticism not allowed.Punjab is all together different, Punjabi's have hearts that is alive and healthy.Well known for hospitality and forgiving.not like the Sena of Mumbai, Tigers of the Zoo.
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zafar Mar 16, 2017 10:29pm
This is no invitation of peace, just exploitation of your talent. Come here, entertain us and leave. Russian ballet groups also frequent USA. Same thing.
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IMTIAZ ALI KHAN Mar 17, 2017 09:57am
Dil khush kita, Tada shukira Love you all and beautiful Indian Punjab. Tusi bhe sadeh parah hoo g Sardar Sahib :)
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