LARKANA: A drama festival that began at Arts Council Larkana a few days ago showcased the sixth play of the series entitled Vijdaan (intuition) late on Tuesday night.

The festival is attracting large crowds every evening who throng the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Open Air Theatre at the arts council to enjoy watching dramas. Dramatic societies of Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot and Jacobabad districts are participating in the festival.

The play Vijdaan was presented by a coterie of artists belonging to Naseerabad taluka of Qambar-Shahdadkot district. The writer of the play was Ayoub Gul and its director was Abbas Gul Odhano. Notable actors in the play were S. Bhatti, Abbas Gul, Reema Naz and Ahmed Pathan.

Though the play progressed towards its climax at a slow pace, it kept the attention of the audience focused on its intricate theme which highlighted the issues of the people belonging to fine arts, their social problems, deprivations and tepid attitude of the society and authorities towards them.

The 120-minute play created a melancholic atmosphere and drew deep emotions from the audience. However, it was also provided with light mood dialogues now and then, and romantic dances. The hero was playing the character of a fiction writer and poet.

Two women actresses in the cast were the need of characters in the drama, however, it made the play more gender-balanced for half of the audience who watched the drama comprised of women.

Speaking after the play concluded, the guests appreciated the artists for playing their roles with accuracy and perfection. Prof Mukhtiar Samo eulogised the Arts Council for affording such an opportunity to the artists and writers to showcase their talent.

He said the dramas written on such topics provided food for thought and also compelled the authorities to work for correcting the wrongs. Others who also spoke on the occasion, included Dr Badar Dhamrah and Bhau Dur Muhammad Buriro, chairman of the Arts Council of Pakistan, Qambar-Shahdadkot.

The plays staged during the festival included Brief Case, Zindgi, Mahbti Mannhon, Pachhtau and Raz written by Sikandar Abbasi, Nisar Shamsi, Niaz Shaikh, Asad Khokhar and Wajid Azad Hulio.

In the concluding remarks, Haneef Suhag, secretary of the Arts Council Larkana and treasurer Abdul Nabi Sariyo thanked the audience for their cooperation and enjoying the dramas in a congenial atmosphere.

They disclosed that this time different drama clubs and societies from Larkana and other districts were invited to showcase their talent and “we are here to provide a platform to promote art and culture together”.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024