Written by: Muhammad Suhayb
Posted on: May 14, 2024 | 
| 中文
Dawar Mehmood with Anwar Maqsood
A dressing down of Gen Z, a barrage of husband-wife jokes and anecdotes that would make you laugh aloud, were highlights of a stand-up comedy show, titled No Offence. Featuring famed director/actor Dawar Mehmood, accompanied by comedian Mohsin Ejaz, the show was just like its name.
Director of various famed theatre shows including Chauda August series, Siachen and Aangan Terha, Dawar Mehmood concluded his series of one-man stand-up comedy shows in Karachi last week. All the above-mentioned theatre plays were written by Anwar Maqsood, and it is Maqsood Sahib’s script and Dawar’s direction which has resulted in the success of Kopykats. The shows were the production of Kopykats & Viral Edge, and were opened by Mohsin Ejaz, a rising television actor and himself a stand-up comedian. Earlier, the shows were performed in Islamabad and Lahore, as well.
Dawar Mehmood with Mohsin Ejaz
Mohsin entertained the audience with jokes, before beginning with a spoof of the National Anthem. He then did an excellent parody of legendary singers, terming Mehdi Hassan’s Zindagi Me tu Sab hi Pyar Karte Hain, a mother of all songs. He related Muhammad Rafi’s Kia Hua Tera Wada to recovery agents of banks, was hilarious. Mohsin’s tribute to his mother was touching, as he recalled the beatings and teachings of his deceased mother, with a smile on his face.
Enter Dawar Mehmood, the star performer of the show. In a conservative society jokes about marriage may be culturally sensitive, but Dawar delivered the script with such humor that it left the audience in splits. His humor directed at the Gen Z and their emotional problems hit home. From a generation who never encountered depression, panic attacks or migraines, Dawar was savage to the kids of today and their lifestyle. Being aware that Punjabi juggats were not welcome in Karachi, Dawar explained why the people in Karachi were different from the rest of Pakistan in a candid way, but stuck with jokes about couples. The definition of Tafreeh (entertainment) by Dawar had some weight, as he believed Karachi-ites, despite having no gas, light and water at home, could pass their days with enough entertainment.
Dawar Mehmood and Yasir Hussain
Known for his witty and relatable humor, from poking fun at family dynamics to commenting on the idiosyncrasies of modern life, Mehmood knows how to play with words with a charming stage presence. Dawar's jokes were mostly about the problems faced by couples. The show was 18+ for a reason, he would talk against cheating of a spouse by a desi couple or drag in his 80+ grandmother, and the way he was treated at home. He himself had to go and gather a stick for his grandmother, so that she could beat the hell out of him. He also mimicked the ‘aunties’, who would not leave the dance floor till the end.
The best part was the way Dawar copied the beggars. He said that beggars in Karachi would give you tips on the Stock Market, while one in Islamabad would prefer cash.
Dawar Mehmood
He targeted the corporate market and recalled his first meeting with a girl surnamed Bandookwala. A pupil of the eternal humorist Anwar Maqsood, he chipped in with two anecdotes concerning the grey-haired writer. One was the classic line, ‘people in the world are dying of aids and we are being raised on aid’, while the other one concerned Heera Mandi (the Red Light Area of Lahore), mentioning a raunchy dancer and her son’s presence in the gathering.
He even commented on the feminists, the Aurat March and the equity of gender. Dawar’s logic circled around the police warning, which began with aurat, bachcho aur janwaro ko jaanay dain (let ladies, children and animals leave the place).
Dawar Mehmood, Anwar Maqsood and Muhammad Ahmed Shah
The conclusion of the one-hour long stand-up comedy happened with a fictional address of Imran Khan, (Dawar had played Khan’s role in theatre earlier), who believed his wives were the real reason why he is still in jail. No Offence has been well-received by fans of stand-up comedy in Pakistan. Mehmood's performances often resonate with audiences due to their relatability and comedic timing. He is a legend in the making!
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