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The promo for Anwar Maqsood’s Saadhay 14 August highlights the triple layered need for Partition

The promo for Anwar Maqsood’s Saadhay 14 August highlights the triple layered need for Partition

It features a British rep and leaders Jinnah and Gandhi voicing what their priorities are where independence is concerned.
11 Aug, 2022

With mere days to the premiere of the final part of playwright Anwar Maqsood’s theatrical trilogy, Saadhay 14 August, Kopykats Production has released another promo to reel fans in. It features Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Indian Congress leader Mahatma Gandhi defining their reasons for vouching for Partition.

On Monday, they dropped the teaser captioned, “‘Those who were left behind are in misery. Those who were uprooted are in misery.’ Anwar Maqsood’s Saadhay 14 August, directed by Dawar Mehmood, premiering at Karachi Arts Council August 14.”

The short clip featured voiceovers from three different parties — the British, Jinnah and Gandhi — and what looked like a drop of blood that fell on the ground every time one party would pitch in their ideas. The British representative addressed the “members of the constituent assembly” and said he has a “message from the king”. Jinnah said, “We want the division of India into Hindustan and Pakistan because that is the only practical solution.” And calling himself a soldier of peace, Gandhi said, “It is complete independence that we want.”

When they’re done speaking, the three red drops amalgamate and elongate, rushing forward across land. The voices in the background pick up and the discussion turns into an argument which distorts into pained screams as the red line (made from the drops) ends up becoming the border between Pakistan and India. The camera zooms out on a mapped version of the two separate states as the narrator says, “Hindu India and Muslim India must be separated.”

The theatrical trilogy was initiated 10 years ago by the playwright. The series started off with Pawnay Chauda August, a play that had been hugely successful, running to full houses and bringing back the trend of visiting the theatre. Sawa Chauda August was the second instalment, also winning extensive critical and commercial acclaim.

As we know, there will be no 14 August play. The Aangan Terha writer told Images why: “I won’t be writing that because to my mind, Pakistan hasn’t yet seen a chauda August worth celebrating.”

Disclosing details about the final theatrical piece, he had said, “In the play a man files a case against Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Gandhi as to who is responsible for the decline of a huge state such as India — three countries were made out of it. Then they’re asked to go to four cities to find out who’s responsible. They cities are: Kashmir, Lahore, Delhi and London. So the play is divided into four parts. First the Quaid and Gandhi go to Kashmir, then Lahore, Delhi and London.”

Producer of the play Salman Hussain and director Mehmood said, “We are very excited for it. It’ll happen immediately after Eid. The drama will run in Karachi for two months. After that it will travel to Islamabad and Lahore.”

Comments

Readdr Aug 11, 2022 02:29pm
Saadhay?? Or saarhay
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Syed A. Mateen Aug 11, 2022 03:04pm
It is good for all young people to watch this particular show so that they should know that Pakistan got independence after lot of sacrifices. This may help to reduce present polarisation in the society which is divided in between many political parties. I wish if all youngsters living in Karachi should join the show so that they should know the importance of Pakistan as it was not the easy task for Quaid-i-Azam and his colleague to fight a long battle to get the independence on August 14, 1947. Pakistan is a place for every one to live peacefully, irrespective of any religion, cast and creed and it is the duty of the youngsters to take Pakistan towards its right direction for which Pakistan was created on the world map If Pakistan will remain peaful politically and economically, there will be no need for the young generation to migrate to another country. Let's join hands together on Agusust 14 to say Pakistan Zindabad and keep on saying Pakistan Zindabad for rest of our lives.
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M Emad. Aug 11, 2022 03:25pm
Mahatma Gandhi was a Saintly Statesman.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Aug 11, 2022 04:43pm
Please remember, it was not partition but independence, liberty and freedom which happened on August 14, 1947.
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Amazed Aug 11, 2022 05:11pm
The promo shows a gap where Bangladesh should be.
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TruWords Aug 11, 2022 05:44pm
Would love to watch this! However, Mr. Jinnah had a very different perception of what Pakistan should be - it was supposed to be a near-secular, welfare country where EVERYONE despite their faith, race, caste, creed could excel in life, get equal opportunities, feel safe, and basically have a good life! Much of this was burried under the fundamentalist regime of we know who! And politicians today also use religion as a trump card to enrage sentiments and earn more votes from a very naive population.
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Zulfiqar Aug 12, 2022 06:02am
@TruWords Quaid e Azam did promise the feudals that their land will not be confiscated. That’s the reason they supported him. The first thing India did after partition was land reforms. Therein lies the root of all of Pakistan’s socio economic imbalances.
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John Aug 12, 2022 08:53am
Pakistan was created India existed
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