Currently running on PTV
Starrring: Manzoor Qureshi, Tahira Wasti, Sharqa Fatima, Adnan Jillani, Kamran
Jillani, Imran Sheikh, and Ayesha Khan
Written by: Nighat Abdullah
Dramatisation: Seema Ghazal
Directed by: Kazim Pasha
The theme of the play is education of women in the feudal background.
The
story revolves around a feudal lord, Manzoor Qureshi, who is the head
of his
family. He had allowed his daughter Mehrunissa (Tahira Wasti) to study
medicine, however she had left him in disgrace to marry a man of his
choice.
Since then he his against education of women. However his grand
daughter
Sabahat (Sharqa Fatima) too wants to study medicine and finally manages
to
make him consent only on the condition that she will come back to marry
a
man of her grand father's choice. Hence Saba goes to med school and
there
falls in love with her classfellow Hammad (Kamran Jillani) who unknown
to
her is her aunt Mehrunissa's son. Yet she bows down in front of her
grand
father's wishes and gets married too Zavar Shah (Adnan Jillani).
Zavar is a
total illiterate. He and his mother Zebunissa (Ayesha Khan) make life
hell
for her and keep taunting her for her education and refuse to let her
practice medicine. Meanwhile Mehru makes peace with her father and
finally
after 25 years the father and daughter meet. Hammad still is in love with
Saba,
and they are both surprised to find out that they are cousins.
Will Hammad save Saba from Zavar and will women finally be allowed to
study
in these feudal sytems remains to be seen. The script is strong and
well
directed. Almost all the characters are doing well in their roles. -by Gina
Comments:
The play has a distinct theme which nowadays has become quite rare, but the presentation lacks
originality and commendable performances. The story of a woman who bows down to her family's wishes
is realistic, but the way she quitely suffers at the hands of her abusive husband sends a wrong message. Being a highly educated woman, it should have been shown that she is aware of the fact that spousal abuse is wrong and she knows how to get help. If the play is designed to send a message out to society then it's sending out the wrong message.