LAHORE: The Ajoka Theatre will stage one of its landmark plays, Bala King, at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) on Sept 9.

The play will be staged by Ajoka’s acting students.

Written by Shahid Nadeem, the play narrates the story of a Walled City goon who becomes a politician and city mayor by using bribe and intimidation.

The play shows how a group of gangsters can ‘manage’ the electoral process and lay claim to having been democratically elected.

The play is an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s drama about Hitler’s rise to power.

The role of Bala King is played by Ali Haider. Hamza Mumtaz plays Bala’s deputy and Farwa is the female companion of Bala as Gogi Churri. All actors are first-time actors who have completed Ajoka Institute’s Art of Acting course under the mentorship of Nirvaan Nadeem.

Meanwhile, the senior Ajoka team is leaving for Islamabad on Wednesday to perform its acclaimed play, Bullah, at the Pakistan National Council of Arts on Friday (Sept 8).

Ajoka Executive Director Shahid Nadeem, while talking to Dawn, expressed concern at the recent banning of commercial theatres on charge of obscene performances. He said, “while we endorse the Punjab government’s action to curb obscenity on the commercial stage, heavy-handed crackdowns will not eliminate the menace.

The government and the society have to provide a healthy alternative to the audience, which is entertaining and meaningful”. He also hoped that the tendency to censorship and banning would not be extended to socially critical performing arts or curtail the freedom of artistic expression.

Punjabi flick: Latest Global Punjabi film Buhe Bariyan will hit the screens on Sept 15.

The star cast includes renowned international Punjabi artist Neeru Bajwa, Nirmal Rishi, Rubina Bajwa, Jitendra Kor and others.

For quality entertainment of Pakistani moviegoers, the Distribution Club has organised the release of Buhe Bariyan which will hit cinemas across the country on Friday (Sept 15).

The interesting promo has become the attention of fans across the world on social media websites which has been watched and appreciated by millions of people till now.

According to film circles, Buhe Bariyan is an important flick regarding women’s rights, in which superstitious ideas and outdated traditions have been brought forward in the context of a simple but interesting story. The film has excellent music and lively dialogues.

Executive Director of Distribution Club, Sheikh Abid Rasheed, said Buhe Bariyan is a complete entertainment film based on an interesting story. Film’s promotion has formally been started. It will provide quality entertainment to movie buffs on Sept 15.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2023