LAHORE: The Punjab Council of Arts (PCA) has sought the submission of scripts for the plays to be staged in commercial theatres all over Punjab till March 31, in a bid to check “obscene” stage performances.

Most of the commercial plays have been accused of promoting obscenity, vulgarity through racy dialogues and dare bare dances, while scripts are hardly followed during the stage performances.

The PAC officials told Dawn that a message of the Punjab government had been conveyed to the commercial theatre stakeholders that no obscenity would be tolerated in the plays, while it would be ensured that the scripts approved by the scrutiny committee were followed.

The officials warned that strict action would be taken against theatre producers, owners and performers found involved in obscene acts or dances on the stage.

PCA Executive Director Dr Syed Bilal Haider says the script scrutiny fee has also been increased from Rs15,000 to Rs35,000 after the approval by the council’s Board of Governors (BoG).

However, he says, the fee hike was challenged by different producers and owners through a writ petition in the Lahore High Court, which directed Punjab chief secretary to look into the matter. The CS rejected the producers’ stances and endorsed the PCA BoG verdict, he adds.

Mr Haider says that special teams are being notified to censor and monitor the commercial theatre performances to be staged on Eid across the province.

The producers and theatre owners have also been given guidelines regarding scripts, including high entertainment value, strong character portrayals, quality of humor, subjects related to social issues, and market research.

Commercial plays which were being staged at arts councils and institutes such as the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac), Lahore Arts Council, and the Punjab Council of Arts in the past had almost replaced socially meaningful theatre.

Most of these plays thrived on racy dialogues and suggestive dances, undermining the role of public art institutes in promotion of quality plays and healthy theatrical activity. It also betrayed a sexist mindset where women are exploited in the name of comedy.

Now commercial plays are not being staged from any of the arts council platforms, and are only restricted to private theaters.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2024