LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre marked its 40th birthday by holding an event at Alhamra Arts Centre which was also attended by eminent theatre artistes from Indian Punjab.

The guests included director and playwright Kewal Dhaliwal, writer and professor Arvinder Kaur Dhaliwal, Anita Devgan and Hardip Gill and peace activist Arvinder Singh Chamak, according to a press release.

Celebrities associated with Ajoka in the past, including Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, journalist Hamid Mir, Senator Walid Iqbal, actors Samiya Mumtaz and Savera Nadeem also graced the occasion.

Kewal Dhaliwal spoke about his over 30 years of collaboration with Ajoka. He said several of Ajoka plays were widely performed in the Indian Punjab and four of Shahid Nadeem’s plays were a part of MA Punjabi syllabus in various universities of India.

Hamid Mir talked about the days when he toured with Ajoka playing the role of a despotic Kotwal and was persecuted by Gen Zia’s regime for it.

Aitzaz Ahsan remembered the times when he helped in exchange of thousands of prisoners between India and Pakistan. He paid tribute to Shahid Nadeem and the late Madeeha Gauhar for their efforts for peace in the region.

A theatre exhibition was organised where costumes and props from famous Ajoka plays were put on display.

The programme included dramatic performances from Ajoka plays and a video report of Ajoka’s four decades journey. The performers at the event included Sara Raza Khan, Mahwish, Madeeha and Alyzee Khan. A new Ajoka song ‘Jeevay Ajoka’ was launched.

The programme ended with a qawwali performance by Sher Miandad.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2024