LAHORE, May 15: In connection with the birth centenary celebrations of Indian Sub-Continent’s prolific writer Saadat Hasan Manto, the Lahore Arts Council and Ajoka Theatre organised a seminar at Alhamra Art Centre on Wednesday.

Madeeha Gauhar, the moving spirit behind Ajoka Theatre, said a TV serial based on life and works of Manto was being produced. She said a film would also be made on Manto at a later stage. The film would also be screened in India. She said it was a great project on Manto to help people understand Manto in a better way.

The TV series has been directed by Sarmad Khusat, produced by Asif Raza Mir and Javed Babar and written by Shahid Mehmood Nadeem.

A short presentation of the TV series was also screened on the occasion. Prominent artistes in this particular TV series include Faisal Qureshi, Sarmad Khusat, Sania Saeed, Saba Qamar, Akbar Subhani and Maria Wasti.

The most part of the seminar was based on readings from Manto’s works. Playwright Asghar Nadeem Syed threw light on the background of Manto’s works and explored different periods of Manto’s life, the time Manto spent in cities such as Bombay and Lahore and the agony he went through when he was charged with writing “obscene” stories. Raza Naeem, a literary critic, read out a paper on relevance between Manto and current situation of the country indirectly referring to the elections of 2013.

Naveed Shehzad read ‘Ganjay Farishtay’ and Shujjat Hashmi read ‘Chacha Sam Kay Naam Chautha Khat’. Ajoka will present a play on ‘Manto -- Kaun Hai Ye Gustakh’ on May 16 and 17 at Alhamra Art Centre, Hall No 2.