Written by: Bilal Sohail
Posted on: August 08, 2019 | 
| 中文
Prem Gali ki Prem Kahanijpg
Punjabi Theatre has been a vital part of the entertainment industry in Pakistan. Former stage actors who got their start in folk theatre now often feature on popular evening television shows. While some of these actors are quite outspoken about the issues of this art form, there has not been enough effort in recent years t0 popularize the dramedy genre of Punjabi theatre again.
The 21st Azadi Theatre Festival, organized by Alhamra Arts Council, concluded on Sunday, 4th August. Spanning a total of six days, it featured captivating performances by renowned theatre groups in Pakistan, dealing with a variety of genres. The Chief Guest for the closing ceremony on the final day of the festival was none other than veteran journalist Suhail Warraich.
“Your academic achievements are of little use if you don’t invest time to promote and participate in the various extra-curricular activities, which catalyze the process of growth and learning,” he said.
Soon after, the Azad Theatre Group put on a remarkable performance in front of a jam-packed audience at Alhamra Art Centre, Lahore. Their one-act play lasted 90 minutes, and was titled “Prem Gali Ki Prem Kahani”. “Prem Gali” was written and directed by Malik Aslam, who has received theatre training from the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi.
The play transported the audience to simpler times using humor, character exposition, and plot development. The play engaged viewers through interconnected storylines running simultaneously, that depicted the historic and communal culture of the Walled City. Although some might find the plot incoherent or chaotic, this is quite a common trope for Punjabi Theatre, which often focuses on antics and dialogue, as opposed to narrative.
“Prem Gali” touched upon countless themes prevalent in our society like social disparity, inflation, drug consumption, social taboos, religious hacks, illegal immigration, corruption and oppression, making it an insightful yet entertaining performance.
Instead of trying to attain knowledge through education or experience, the characters were exceedingly dependent on the wisdom of their friends and elders. “Prem Gali” guided viewers to the conclusion that this way of life often fails at the hands of corruption, oppression and most importantly, the inevitable passage of time.
But the central theme of the story, which connected all the cultural aspects together, was the theme of love and romance. “Some pursue economic gains, others pursue fame; this bloke right here is surely clueless, he just wants to pursue the love of his life.”
These lines were poetically delivered by Usman Zia, who took on the role of Pappu’s friend. Usman’s acting and delivery was appreciated greatly by viewers throughout the performance. Another notable performer was Sarfaraz Ansari, who fulfilled the role of Chaudhary Sahab to perfection. Ansari is known for his diverse set of roles in feature films such as ‘Bol’, ‘Khamosh Pani’ and ‘Zinda Bhaag’. Furthermore, he has also received the Prithvi Raj Kapoor Award for Theatre. Chaudhary Sahab’s often-misplaced wisdom and overly caring personality, was lovable and thoroughly hilarious.
Women also participated wholeheartedly in the production as well, with Aliya Abbasi, Zoya Qazi, Naina Baloch and others in both supporting and leading roles. Without their constant presence and outstanding performances, it would have indeed been a very dull affair. “If I commit suicide with you, my family will brutally murder me”, exclaimed Zoya Qazi on stage, making the crowd double over with laughter.
Every aspect of stage production was executed effectively, from the colorful costume design, live music, and lighting, to the soundtrack. This is largely due to Aslam’s ingenuity as the Lighting Director and Stage Designer. The cast and crew members were given a hearty and well-deserved standing ovation at the very end.
“A majority of today’s youth is convinced to fight the lack of education and awareness by giving up on their own culture and values. This indeed spells disaster for all of us, for we must complement our culture through the acquirement of education rather than looking towards abandoning it completely,” stated Aslam. It was indeed refreshing to witness Azad Theatre Group’s production, and we hope to see more experimental and interesting directors popularize this medium for Pakistanis today.
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