ISLAMABAD: Encapsulating the message that the youth should give up the ideals of the Western world, students from the drama club at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) presented their play Alif Iqbal at the National Art Gallery on Thursday.

Directed by Mohammad Ali Farooqi, who also played the lead role of Bala, the play has won appreciation in other theatre festivals as well. The writer of the play, Saad Sultan, was also recently awarded for writing the best script for a play in a drama festival.

“This play was nominated for eight awards and won four of them, including awards for best actor, best supporting actor and best female lead actress,” said Mr Farooqi.

The production is part of an eight day Youth Drama Festival that started on May 16 and will continue until May 23 in which university and college students from the twin cities are participating.

In the play, QAU students urge the younger generation to give up Western ideals and understand the lessons of Iqbal, particularly the concept of ‘Khudi’ and other Islamic values. The play discusses the deterioration of moral values, double standards and hypocrisy in society.

Through the role of a servant, Farooqi conveys the message that the worth of people is more than all the fame and riches in the world.

While the script was strong, the general impression among the audience was that the acting was weak.

However, the audience was supportive of the actors on stage. A guest, Khalid Hassan, said: “It was a bit of a drag but the overall presentation was entertaining.”

Another member of the audience, Naeema Abbas, said she enjoyed the production almost as much as the comical remarks made by guests during the performance.

Zile Huma, a cast member was confident that the play would have been a hit with the audience.

“The script is good and all the actors have experience which is a good combination for winning the drama competition,” she said.

In his remarks afterwards, former PTV controller Shahid Masud who was part of the jury, said: “It is commendable that students are making so much effort in the acting world without proper guidance. It is a shame that most educational institutions do not support them.”

Stage performer Afzaal Latifi agreed and said that the student’s performances were good despite not having received formal training.

The next play in the festival will be “Gungi Joru” by students of the Arid Agricultural University Rawalpindi on Friday.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2016