Print

    Theatre Review: Taskeen Presents 'Suno!'

    Written by: Hania Masood
    Posted on: April 29, 2016 |

    The Rizvi family united in Gulzar's sickness (images provided by Chromium Media Studio)

    “The anguish of the mind needs to be heard. So let’s start listening.”

    In a country where the topic of mental illness is marred with stories of jinn possession and nazar, this play is a genuine insight into the life of a middle-class family, distraught by the mental instability of their only son, Gulzar (played by Hadi bin Arshad).

    Presented by Taskeen and directed by Hamza Bangash, the play is inspired by the life of Ramis Akhtar, a young man struggling with bipolar disorder. Taskeen, which literally means ‘to give comfort’, is a mental health and emotional wellbeing awareness initiative aiming to alleviate the stigma that patients with mental disorders face when seeking treatment. Strong acting from all the major characters led to the play being full of powerful emotions, which did well to captivate the audience.

    Play Suno by Taskeen

    Gulzar (Hadi bin Arshad) during his subconcious monologue

    Suno! starts off with a mysterious death in the Rizvi household: the patriarch of the family, Asghar Rizvi, has passed away, leaving his only grandchild, Gulzar, in a state of turmoil. Prior to his grandfather’s death, Gulzar is shown to be a lighthearted, straight-A student who is the pride of his parents, Afia and Sohail (played by Syeda Danya Zaidi and Hammad Siddiq, respectively).

    However, from the very beginning, the play establishes a change in Gulzar’s personality, portrayed by the textbook symptoms of someone who is afflicted with bipolar disorder. He feels isolated due to the growing distance between his parents and himself; the father resorts to harsh and violent behavior when he feels that Gulzar is acting out, and his mother dismisses his behavior, blaming it on the pressure of exams. Gulzar refuses to spend time with his close friends Sophiya and Murtaza (played by Yasmin Hashmi and Hasan Khan), fails his exams, and displays constant mood swings. The only person willing to accept his mental disability is his grandmother (played by Mahjabeen Rahman), who has dealt with these symptoms with her husband before he took his own life. However, when she suggests that Gulzar needs therapy, she is met with severe criticism by Sohail, who would rather believe that his son is possessed than send him to a mental healthcare facility.

    Gulzar’s isolation and his inability to comprehend his illness lead him to attempt suicide, which finally forces his parents to realize that he needs professional help. The idea that anyone who needs therapy is “crazy” is unfortunately embedded deep within our mindsets, which is very aptly characterized by the role of the father. The offhand use of words such as ‘paagal’ (mad) depicts the insensitive nature of our society through the meticulously written script, with Gulzar’s predicament striking a chord with people who are affected by mental illnesses but choose not to seek therapy due to the taboos surrounding the subject.

    Play Suno by Taskeen

    The talented cast of Suno! taking a bow

    The concept of approaching ‘hakims’ and ‘ustaads’ instead of seeking professional help is also a common occurrence in our society, with mental disorders not being recognized as a real illness by a large majority of people. Such an episode was depicted in this play, with Sohail coming under the influence of others and resorting to such cures. Furthermore, the play managed to accurately show the troubles faced by a household, who are equally engulfed in a battle to justify their decision to admit their son in a mental healthcare facility. This was effectively portrayed through the characters of Shehla (played by Hiraa Dar) and her husband Ahsan (played by Syed Jameel), who also provided some comic relief in an otherwise serious play. Speaking to Assistant Director Amtul Baweja about the serious undertones of the play, she remarked that the team knew they had to tackle this taboo head-on; beating about the bush would not have achieved the purpose of spreading awareness among the audience.

    While the play ends on a somewhat abrupt note, it achieves what it had set out to: it forces the audience to see mental disabilities for what they are, rather than sweeping them under the rug due to social stigma. Suno! is a much-needed effort in the theatrical arena to address the often-hushed issue of mental illness and raise awareness about the appropriate treatment options for people affected by mental disorders.

     

    All images have been provided by Chromium Media Studio.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021