LAHORE: The 26th Alhamra Theatre Festival, a highly anticipated event at the Alhamra Art Centre on The Mall, commenced on Monday, captivating the audience with a diverse range of theatrical performances scheduled over the next 10 days.

Although the festival experienced a modest turnout on its opening day, the delay of almost an hour from the scheduled 6pm start time caught many attendees by surprise. Prior to the commencement of the play, there were speeches by esteemed guests instead of an immediate curtain rise for the theatrical performance. Among the distinguished guests who addressed the audience were Attaul Haq Qasmi, former chairman of the board of governors of the Lahore Arts Council, Shahid Nadeem, executive director of Ajoka Theatre, and poet Abbas Tabish.

The Mass Foundation took the stage on the inaugural day of the festival, presenting a captivating adaptation of Manto’s short story, Hattak. This performance was particularly significant as it coincided with the 111th birth anniversary of the legendary Sadat Hassan Manto. The play skillfully portrayed the essence of one of Manto’s most controversial short stories, featuring a thought-provoking set and recorded music.

Hattak delves into the life of a prostitute during the final stages of India’s struggle for independence and the early years of independent India. In this feminist narrative, Manto skillfully depicts the life of Sughandhi, a compassionate prostitute who is torn between her emotions and her occupation. She toils tirelessly to earn a living and maintains a good rapport with her pimp, Ram Laal. While Sughandhi possesses a calm and gentle demeanour, she becomes emotionally entangled with her regular customers, unable to refuse their hollow declarations of love—a love she yearns for in her own life, working as a prostitute in Mumbai.

The pivotal moment in the story occurs when Sugandhi realises the hypocrisy behind the proclamations of love from her male companions. She recognises that every man she has encountered, including the police sergeant Madhu, has exploited her kindness and affectionate nature. Determined to break free from these exploitative relationships, she resolves to sever all ties with them, both literally and metaphorically. This poignant narrative shines a light on the humanity of Mumbai’s prostitutes in the 1940s and 1950s, a theme to which Manto dedicated many of his short stories.

Aamir Nawaz, the president and artistic director of the Maas Foundation, skillfully adapted and directed this play, while the sound design was expertly handled by Imran Mani. Eshah Malik portrayed the main role of Sugandhi with exceptional talent, and Zaheer Taj delivered a compelling performance as Madhav. Tanveer Khalid, Mansoor Bhatti, and Aamir Ali also showcased their remarkable acting skills as part of the ensemble cast.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2023