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Pakistani theatre troupe perform 'Bullah' in Kerala
by Juhan
Samuel
Thrissur
(Kerala): Far away from the tensions brewing between
India and Pakistan's political circles, people in
Thrissur district applauded the famed theatre group
of Pakistan which performed a play at the International
Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFK) here on Friday.
Pakistan's Ajoka Theatre, represented by a 16-member
troupe, has been invited by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka
Akademi to perform the play 'Bullah' at the 10-day
theatre festival. The play 'Bullah' revolved around
the life and message of great Sufi poet Bullah Shah
(1680 - 1758) who witnessed the downfall of the Mughal
Empire. Living through times characterised with internecine
conflicts, rebellions, civil and religious strife
and total political chaos, Bullah Shah was a beacon
of hope and humanism for the people of his time. With
his powerful voice Bullah Shah called for tolerance
and love in times when the Indian sub-continent was
engulfed with war, hopelessness and hatred. The play
'Bullah' reflected his life and was a tribute to the
great mystic. It was based on the events of his life,
as are known through poetry, historical records and
popular myths. While staging the play 'Bullah', the
Pakistani artistes hoped that normalcy would return
to the subcontinent soon. "It is unfortunate that
there is tension. We face problems. Some people in
the group, their families did not allow them to come
because they were fearful that anything might happen.
But, I somehow, I'm very optimistic. I've faith in
the better aspect of the human nature and I think
that sanity will ultimately prevail despite this mass
hysteria," said Madeeha Gauhar, the Art Director at
Ajoka Theatre. Ajoka Theatre group is stated to have
been promoting peace for the past 25 years, and staging
the play for seven years. Theatre groups from China,
Nepal, Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and different parts
of India are other participating in the international
theatre festival. The 10-day festival includes showing
of Mudrarakshasam, performed by the Jose Chirammel
Smaraka Samithi; Rarang from Bangladesh (director:
Mamunur Rashid); Paari Padukkalam, a Tamil play (Pralayan);
Bulha from Pakistan (Madeeha Gaur); Atmahatya, a Marathi
play (Sadanand Paramanand Borkar); Sinhabahu from
Sri Lanka (Ethiriweera Sarachandra); Jocasta from
Iran (Mohammed Aghebati); Dusamay, a Bengali play
(Prathap Jaiswal); and Fire in the Monastery from
Nepal (Sunil Pokharel).
-Dec
27, 2008
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