Yasir Hussain’s spontaneity and Anwar Maqsood’s one-liners make this play, directed by Dawar Mehmood, a must-watch.
“With Anwar [Maqsood] sahab writing the script, we will be able to beat the record of Aangan Terha,” Dawar Mehmood, director of Naach Na Jaanay, rightly predicted at the press conference - prior to the play’s premiere in Karachi.
Anwar Maqsood and Dawar Mehmood’s latest theatre production, Naach Na Jaanay, which opened in Karachi on March 16, is certainly one of Maqsood’s best scripts to date.
A prequel to Aangan Terha that the legendary playwright wrote in the eighties for television and then for stage in 2013, it surpassed our expectations and offered a 90 minute laugh riot to those in attendance.
Set in the eighties, the play follows the life of Akbar, effortlessly essayed by Yasir Hussain, who makes his stage comeback after seven years with the production. He reprises the role of Akbar, a former classical dancer who is employed at Mehboob and Jahan Ara’s after dance academies are shut down, and keeps reminding them of both his unpaid salary (worth Rs 30,615) and that he is an artist.
Naach Na Jaanay also takes us back to the seventies when Zia-ul-Haq declared martial law and dance academies were banned. This closed all doors for artists like Akbar, whose skills were questioned when they went looking for white collar jobs. The play subtly touches upon issues that have been plaguing our society since time immemorial – from politics to religion to sports and performing arts - it serves as a commentary on society’s perceptions on a number of things.
The dance sequences, choreographed by Wahab Shah and his team, which took place before martial law was declared, came as the cherry on top and instantly changed the mood of the auditorium.
However, we do wish Yasir Hussain was a part of the dance sequence as well.
In terms of performances, Yasir outperforms all others with his comic timings, spontaneity and expressions; the remaining cast also does justice to their roles too, particularly, Abdullah Farhatullah and Sara Bhatti – essayed by Mehboob and Jahan Ara, respectively as they both play key roles in the production.
Naach Na Jaanay is the first play (out of his eight plays that were directed by Dawar and have been performed at the Arts Council) that Maqsood has written for Arts Council, while it has been directed by Dawar Mehmood, who has done a commendable job with this one.
What makes this play even more significant is the fact that the amount collected from it will be used to support artists (writers, musicians, etc.) who are sitting at home and do not have any other source of income. “It is the right and responsibility of the institution to pay them back for their contribution to the arts,” asserted Maqsood.
The star-studded media night for the play was held on March 19 with Humayun Saeed, Fahad Mustafa, Nadeem Baig, Iqra Aziz and team Parey Hut Love including Zara Noor Abbas, Asim Raza, Maya Ali and Sheheryar Munawar, among many others in attendance. These artists were all praises for the play as well as the writer and director, something that was evident in the standing ovation the play received.
After the show, Bushra Ansari, who essayed Jahan Ara in the original Aangan Terha in 1984, took the stage and shared, “It was delightful to see all of that we have been through, years ago. I could relate to it and imagine myself in the role. Yasir stole the show as usual while the contemporary touch, added by Dawar, is commendable. And hats off to Anwar Maqsood sahab for making it happen once again.”
Anwar Maqsood hit all the right notes with the script that not only keeps viewers engaged with the writing but also makes room for laughs, here and there. Naach Na Jaanay is signature Anwar Maqsood play – with a crisp script, on-point humour and superb performances.
Running at the Karachi Arts Council till April 7, it is a must-watch. Highly recommended!
