September 18, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 17, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 17: As expected, the introductory press conference of Vakeel Sahib, the National Academy of Performing Arts’ upcoming production, was dominated by theatrics of a different kind, as the current controversy sparked by the Sindh culture minister’s stated intentions of getting Napa’s current building – the Seth Ramgopal Goverdhandas Mohatta Hindu Gymkhana – vacated by the educational institution, overshadowed talk of the play.

Held on Wednesday at the Karachi Press Club and addressed by Napa faculty members Arshad Mahmud and Talat Hussain, the company’s artistic director Rahat Kazmi, the play’s director Anjum Ayaz and artiste Sajid Hasan, who is not part of Napa but was present to lend moral support, the press briefing allowed the faculty members to air their views about the matter.

“The (Sindh) ministry of culture owns the building. We pay rent to the ministry. We are law-abiding people. We don’t wander around with Kalashnikovs in Pajeros. If the administration wants to restore the Gymkhana, why doesn’t it restore the whole of it, as other portions have been occupied as well? Why just us?” asked Arshad Mahmud.

“We are not political people. But each new administration criticizes the previous one. The building was in a dismal state before we moved in,” he added.

The former president, retired general Pervez Musharraf, took personal interest in the establishment and patronage of Napa, which was set up in 2005, and observers have said that it is due to the institution’s association with the former president that it has come in the new government’s line of fire.

Sindh Culture and Tourism Minister Sassui Palejo has said numerous times that the government intends to return the building to the Hindu community.

In an emotional appeal, actor Sajid Hasan urged the powers that be to reconsider the decision.

“Why is an educational institution being singled out? Napa is a national treasure. It is a miracle that it has survived this long. It is a sanctuary. We must support theatre and we must support the students.”

Another issue that was raised at the press conference was that of the ticket price of Napa’s plays, as some in the audience thought the proposed price of Rs800 was too steep and would alienate the “masses.”

The Napa faculty members tried to justify the price, saying that the institution had to pay a huge amount of rent for the auditorium as well as excise tax, and at the end of the day professional actors also had to put food on the table.

When it was suggested that the academy try to secure sponsorships, the faculty members claimed that sponsors were not forthcoming. Talat Hussain told the audience that if people spared a kebab paratha dinner for one night, they could easily afford the tickets.

The Napa instructors also argued that certain plays were selling tickets for as high as Rs3,000 and still selling out, whereas Napa’s ticket prices were much lower in comparison. Arshad Mahmud said that they would look into the suggestion of perhaps selling reduced price tickets for a production on a lean night.

Vakeel Sahib

As for the play itself, it will be directed by Anjum Ayaz while veteran actors Talat Hussain and Arshad Mahmud will play the lead roles, along with members of the Napa Repertory Company. It is an adaptation of a play by Hungarian playwright Molnar. Shoaib Hashmi has adapted it into Urdu. It premiers on October 3 – which will most probably be the second day of Eidul Fitr – and will run till Oct 12.

“We are trying to stage at least six dramas a year and push it up to 12. In a city like Mumbai you have anything from 20 to 25 productions a night. Here, a generation has grown up without enjoying drama. This has been a great cruelty perpetrated against society,” said Mr Mahmud.

Napa’s Repertory Theatre Company has been staging a mix of traditional productions as well as more experimental fare. According to a press release, the company’s future productions include Janab-i-wala Mar Chukay Hain, to be staged in November, and Anji, scheduled for December.