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Indo-Pak theatre festival on March 7
Lahore:
Pakistan's popular Ajoka Theatre will organise
a festival called Zanani featuring prominent Indian
and Pakistani theatre groups. They will perform together
for the first time from March 7 to 13 at the Alhamra
Arts Council here. Madeeha Gauhar, Shahid Nadeem and
Sohail of the Ajoka Theatre group said five leading
Indian theatre groups and several Pakistani groups
other than Ajoka would stage over a dozen plays on
women's issues in various theatrical styles. "The
festival will not only consist of theatrical performances,
but will also provide an opportunity for theatre activists
to interact at a much wider level through seminars,
theatrical workshops and an exchange of materials,
experiences and skills," Gauhar was quoted by the
Daily Times, as saying. They further told the paper
that a 67-member Indian troupe would cross the Wagah
border into Lahore on March 6 to take part in the
festival. The Indian groups attending the festival
are Rangtoli and Manch Rangmanch from Amritsar, Ranga
Karmee from Calcutta and Kitchen Katha from Chandigarh.
The Pakistani groups are Tehrik-i-Niswan from Karachi,
Interactive Theatre from Lahore, Bargad from Gujranwala
and Murk from Hyderabad. "The primary aim remains
promoting ties between the countries through cultural
exchange. The other aim is to project the image of
a Pakistani society that is cultured, civilized and
mature," Gauhar added.
The
logo for the festival, a dancing girl from Mohanjodaro,
was unveiled at the press conference. "Through the
logo we will be linking contemporary art with traditional
values dating back five thousand years," she said.
"This opportunity of cultural exchange will not only
reinforce the bonds of the respective theatrical communities,
but will also find a common ground regarding issues
surrounding women's status and the women's movement,"
she added. The festival will also mark Ajoka's 20th
anniversary. The second edition of Khasman Khanian,
a collection of plays on feminist issues by Ajoka,
will be launched at the opening of the festival.
-
Feb 27, 2004
Junoon
to promote peace
Kullu
(Himachl Pradesh): Junoon, a Pakistani musical
band, recently performed to a rocking audience in
Kullu. The group, currently in India to promote the
ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan,
sang many of their hit songs, including "Saiyone"
and "Ali", on the conclusion of a Hindu festival in
the tourist-spot. Salman Ahmad, lead guitarist of
the group, said music was a way to bind the people
of India and Pakistan together. "Music does not know
any barrier, it is a passport of the soul. Music travels
into your heart breaking all barriers. When our first
song "Saiyone" was released in 1998, people here welcomed
us with a lot of love. So I feel music is a powerful
tool and is the most powerful weapon against terror
also," said Ahmad. Ali Azmat, lead singer of the band,
shared Ahmad's sentiments. "People's initiative which
is seen now is the love which they are giving us.
Similarly somebody who goes to Pakistan is given the
same love. This thing is very exciting. This initiative
was not seen five years back but is now visible among
people," said Azmat. In a bid to promote people-to-people
contacts between the nuclear-neighbours, Azmat recently
gave music to a Bollywood film "Paap". The film was
subsequently premiered at the Karachi film festival
last December.
- Feb 26, 2004
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