This is the first time that Indian groups are participating in the Pakistan National Academy of Performing Arts International Theatre Festival in Karachi
“Daddy”: Theatre director Danish Iqbal with lead actor Imran Zahid
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his actor daughter Pooja arrived in Karachi on March 30 for the debut of their play Daddy in Pakistan, seen as the highlight of the on-going International Theatre Festival of the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi.
The participation of Daddy and other Indian plays in the festival was thrown in doubt when there was a hold-up with their visas earlier. The suspense ended last week when Pakistan issued the necessary visas and clearances (no objection certificates).
Bhatt, who had refused to participate in the festival unless all the Indian groups also got visas, has thanked the Pakistan government for clearing the visas requests of the Indian groups.
“All is well that ends well. It is a happy ending for us as the Pakistan Embassy has given a NOC to all the Indian plays that were to travel to Karachi for the theatre festival. I thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
“I met the Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan and he said that there was some kind of miscommunication. The papers had not landed at the place where it was supposed to and there was some sort of a slip-up. He assured me that there was no intention to jeopardise the cultural event.”
The delay forced festival organisers to re-schedule the plays and extend the festival to April 5.
The original schedule ran from March 12-31, 2015.
The first NAPA Performing Arts Festival in 2012 evolved into the NAPA International Theatre Festival. This is the first time that Indian groups are participating in the festival.
The Indian groups include Ujjagar Theatre Group with the Rajasthani language play Kasomal Sapno directed by Ajeet Singh Palawat; Being Association’s Museum of Species in Danger (Hindi/English); 5 Senses with Tum Kaun, a co-production with NAPA; and the biggest draw, Daddy (Hindi), a theatre adaptation of the acclaimed film director Mahesh Bhatt’s 1989 film.
The celebrity father-daughter duo is in Karachi now, and were present at the packed hall performance of Daddy on March 30. The play will run for three nights. This is the first time it is being staged in Pakistan.
“Finally, our first performance in Pakistan,” said Daddy lead actor Imran Zahid, who is excited at the opportunity.
— B. Sarwar
There are many individuals / families on either side of the border wanting good relationship between India and Pakistan who do not buy extremist narratives, seeks every opportunity to enhance friendly ties not only with Indians and Pakistanis, but also between Indian Hindus and Indian Muslims. But such individuals / families are dispersed in the countries and international diaspora without aid of regular proactive initiatives / organizations and bi-lateral architecture that mobilize their franchise for the cause of India / Pakistan friendly ties and continue to do so. This is critical in order to resist continued presence in both countries of irrational, but powerful vested-interests basking in artificial tensions continually created between India and Pakistan, built on the abundance of innocence / ignorance among common people, just to further their parochial self-interests and politically gain powers otherwise unavailable to them. The think-tank of Aman ki Asha need to urgently build this architecture for more intensified participation of members.