Ajoka festival opens with play on Bhagat Singh

LAHORE:Ajoka‘s Madeeha Gauhar Theatre Festival opened with a thumping start at Alhamra, here with Shahid Nadeem’s acclaimed play “Mera Rang Day Basanti Chola”. The play, which was a powerful tribute to freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, was preceded by Nirvaan Nadeem’s documentary “Becoming Bhagat Singh.

The play, originally directed by Madeeha Gauhar, linked the execution of Bhagat Singh in 1931 in Lahore Central Jail and the murder of Nawab Muhammad Ahmad Khan in 1974. It included songs specially written at the time, to pay tribute to Bhagat Singh. The cast included Sibte Hassan, Naseem Abbas, Qaiser Khan, Shehzad Sadiq, Umar Bhatti, Razia Malik, Usman Chaudhry, Usman Zia and Bilal Mughal. Singers included Khawar, Kanwal, Anita, Thomas and Asad.

A delegation of Indian theatre personalities is attending the three-day festival. They included Dr Neelam Maan Singh, Kewal Dhaliwal, Arvinder Singh Chamak, Kabir Singh Chowdhry and Sajan Singh.

Indian director Kewal Dhaliwal appreciated the inspiring performance by the actors.Earlier, festival’s Director Shahid Nadeem said that the festival was dedicated to theatre icon Madeeha Gauhar.