Hua Kuch Yoon sends the message that Pakistan and India can never unite again: Dawar Mehmood

The promotional poster for Hua Kuch Yoon – Kopykats Productions’ latest theatrical venture – shows scrunched up flags of Pakistan and India tied at the middle, one apparently clutched by a man's hand and the other by a woman's.

I am immediately reminded of Bollywood-esque Indo-Pak love stories along the lines of Veer Zara. I also assume that the play is going to be yet another political diatribe by Kopykats Productions, following in the tradition of their past hit satires such as Siachen, Pawnay 14 August, Sawa 14 August and the like.

According to CEO of Kopykats Productions, Dawar Mehmood, the play is ‘completely different’. For one, the script, unlike the team’s previous satire plays, has not been penned by veteran playwright Anwar Maqsood but by actor Sajid Hassan.

“It’s a completely unpredictable love story,” Dawar insists, “and the underlying message is simply that India and Pakistan can never be one again. The two countries are now too far apart to be united ever again.”

Sajid Hassan adds, “The story is fictitious but it is based around historic events. There are philosophical connotations and humor.”

“The play has already been staged in Lahore and Islamabad and it was very well-received,” says Dawar, “but when Sajid came to see it, he told me that he didn’t like it, that we had tampered with the script to such an extent that he couldn’t recognise it.

"But as director, it’s important for me to tweak the script in ways that I feel will work well on stage. At peak emotional points, Sajid wanted the audiences to begin crying but I want to plug in a one-liner that breaks the tension and makes them laugh. The cast has helped with the improvisations and even Anwar Maqsood has made a few additions here and there.”

"When Bananistan flopped, I lost a lot of money. I could've gone back to another Anwar Maqsood venture but I decided that I had to prove that theatre was not dependent on a name." — Dawar Mahmood

I recall how Anwar Maqsood also used to be very particular about his script being altered and Sajid Hassan has felt the same way about the changes made by Dawar. “Of course, I felt angry but ultimately I have faith in Dawar. He’s hard-working, eager and has certain ideas. And theatre does need young people like him to bring new energy to it.”

Nevertheless, ‘Anwar Maqsood’s name is not on the poster this time, a factor that had automatically lead to sold-out shows in the past. Even Kopykats’ last venture, Bananistan, was not scripted by the acclaimed playwright. The play flopped miserably.

“There is a lot of pressure on us,” agrees Dawar. “When Bananistan flopped, I lost a lot of money and was out of work for a year. I could have tried out another venture with Anwar Maqsood but I decided that I had to establish that theatre was not dependent on a name. As long as the content is good, people will come to see the play. The actors in this play are all amateurs but I have faith that I will be able to prove my point with Hua Kuch Yoon.”

“Sajid Hassan knows how to knit a story very well,” continues Dawar. “Also, I feel that the fact that he has written this play has made people very curious. They have always primarily known him as an exceptional actor and now they’re keen to see how he is as a scriptwriter.”

Given how media premieres for movies often result in prompt negative reviews that sometimes bring down sales, is Dawar fearful that the same may happen to his play? The play begins airing in Karachi today onwards, with a media night starting things off.

“No, I am not,” he says. “I have worked hard and I have borne the brunt of all sorts of reviews in the past. There was one that declared that one of our plays would only last in theatres for three days. A media night may be intimidating but I am not going to shy away from it. Sometimes, a play is well-received in Lahore but not in Karachi or it does well in Islamabad but not in Lahore. I am worried – Hua Kuch Yoon has done immensely well in both Lahore and Islamabad!”

And following this venture, will we be seeing Kopykats Productions collaborate with Anwar Maqsood once again, for the last play in the trilogy, Sadhay 14 August? “Let’s see,” says Dawar.

For now, the verdict’s about to be rolled out on Hua Kuch Yoon. Theatre isn’t everyone’s ballgame but this group of young thespians has proven their mettle many times before. Let’s see how this one fares.