By Richa Shukla
Mahesh and Pooja Bhatt Karachi airport arrival photo: Photo by: Rajesh ‘Rajee’ Khushi
Members of the 25-member theatre group, Ujjagar Dramatic Association of India, are excited to leave for Pakistan on April 2 to participate in the ongoing International Theatre Festival in Karachi organised by the Pakistan National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA).
The inclusion of their play Kasumal Sapno, a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream, was earlier thrown in doubt due to uncertainty about visas.
The original performance date for the Jaipur-based theatre group was March 14.
“We are very happy to say that we will be performing in Pakistan,” director Ajeet Singh Palawat told TNN. “Due to visa issues, the festival organizers have decided to extend the dates till April 5. It was earlier supposed to conclude on March 30.”
“Now we will have shows on April 4 and 5 at the NAPA auditorium, where the audience will witness a Rajasthani play,” adds Palawat. “I am sure a lot of people will connect with the dialect too, as there are many Rajasthani speakers in that region.”
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, whose play Daddy, a stage adaptation of his 1989 film was also included in the festival, had said that he would opt out if the other Indian groups were not granted visas.
He has thanked the Pakistani government for granting visas to enable the participation of Indian groups in the Festival.
Bhatt and his daughter Pooja Bhatt travelled to Pakistan on March 30 to participate in the Festival. Daddy opened to a packed house on March 30, and runs for two more days, March 31 and April 1.
— Times News Network
