The Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi is successfully holding its 21-day “Awami Theater Festival,” attracting large audiences nationwide. On the festival’s third day, two thought-provoking plays, “Daagh” and “Gheebat,” captivated a packed auditorium, with audiences attending in high numbers. The first play, “Daagh,” an impactful social drama written by Umar Bhutta and directed by Shabbir Bhatti, was staged at 7 p.m. Featuring a talented cast including Shanzeh, Shamir Rahi, Amir Rambo, Shahbaz Khan, Faiza Malik, Saima Hussain, H. Iqbal, and Shabbir Bhatti, the play unfolded a complex story of family dynamics, highlighting the challenges of parental favouritism and past secrets.
The plot centres around a woman with two sons, showing love to the elder and contempt for the younger, which concerns her husband, Nawab Sahib. The woman of the house originally comes from a background in the red-light district. Nawab Sahib falls in love with her, marries her, and gives her a dignified life. One day, Nawab Sahib has to leave town, and a daughter is born to them during his absence. During this time, the family’s gardener, Heera, takes away their daughter and leaves his son in her place. As the story progresses, the younger son, Shahid, falls in love with the girl, unaware of her true identity.
The gardener then demands money from Nawab Sahib in exchange for his daughter. Nawab Sahib, however, is troubled, saying he could never “trade” his daughter for money. Meanwhile, the elder son absconds with all the family’s wealth. When Nawab Sahib, distressed by these events, decides to expel his wife from the house, their younger son, Heera, steps forward and declares that as long as he’s there, no one will expel his sister from the home. Heera passionately says, “If you want to erase something, erase the stain of injustice committed by those in power. Erase the stain left by those who commit terrorism in the name of the country.” Nawab Sahib then tells Heera that if he truly repents, the Almighty will forgive his sins.
Ultimately, the gardener is reunited with his son, and Nawab Sahib is reunited with his daughter. The gripping tale concludes with a powerful call for forgiveness and justice, set against the soulful backdrop of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali “Meri Touba Meri Touba.” The second play of the evening, “Gheebat” (Backbiting), directed by Younis Memon and written by Zulfiqar Jafri, was staged at 9 p.m. This play featured a strong cast, including Sharafat Ali Shah, Shanzeh, Shahida Malik, Nasira Noor, Shabbir Bhatti, Shehbaz Sanam, Sapna Ghazal, Abdullah Lala, Arma Ahmed, Rauf Alam, Junaid Memon, Hussain Rathore, Tariq Guddu, Shumail, Zohaib Sanam, and Salomi. The story touched upon the Islamic perspective on backbiting, emphasizing the moral and spiritual harm it brings. “Gheebat” was appreciated for its honest portrayal of daily life struggles and how small, mindful actions can yield positive outcomes. Both plays left audiences deeply moved. Awami Theater Festival continues to be an engaging cultural event, sparking reflection and discussion among attendees.
