One of the abiding reasons to watch a period drama is to realize how little human nature changes over the centuries. This can be one of the main reasons to watch EK PUNJAB YE BHI. The other reason is the appeal it would have for those who wish to get a taste of Punjab.
Danish Husain's theatre group, The Hoshruba Repertory has adapted four stories from Ali Akbar Natiq's collection of short stories, Qaim Deen. These four stories are from rural western Punjab region and are tiled Jeerey ki Ravangi, Shareeka, Jodhpur ki Hadd and Shahabu Khalifa ka Shaq. The play uses a great mix of Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi languages.
Jeerey ki Ravangi is about a storyteller called Jeera and about a saint's revenge for having tricked the saint. Shareeka is about Sher Singh's love story that goes to great lengths for his love but in a heart breaking twist, he finally gives up on his love. At the end of this tragic story, is the performance of a song. Jodhpur ki Hadd is about the cousins who are forced to marry each other by their relatives in control of their property. When a girl tries to escape, the relatives hunt her down. Just when they are about to kill her in the name of family honour, there is a twist. Shahabu Khalifa ka Shaq is about Mast who is popular in his region for hunting expeditions with his two hounds. But during one expedition, where the hounds bump into a hare, something unexpected happens.
The play gives a platform to quite a number of actors. This is commendable as theatre continues to be the place where talent in art gets their first opportunities. Witnessing a variety of characters with varying ages and looks is one of the attractive aspects of the play. A lot of hard work has gone into the costumes and to portray a different era.
The play has a mix of pace. It can be quite slow and inaccessible to those who do not understand the intricacies of the languages very well. This is definitely not for those who are looking to watch an entertainer.
EK PUNJAB YE BHIbrings a perspective on some of today's contemporary issues. With marriage and love between people of different religions once again in the limelight, the play shows how society has always had an unaccepting attitude towards forbidden love.
Ali Akbar Natiq is one of the most distinguished contemporary, literary writers in Pakistan. His work has come to attention in the subcontinent in recent years. Danish Husain has chosen a very different portfolio of work by choosing to tell stories of a writer whose presence in the literary world is still being discovered – we are more used to Urdu plays by writers who are dead and gone, and who can benefit little from the adaptations. In that sense, the play is a significant attempt at highlighting relatively fresh writing. The success of the play at the ticket counter should inspire other theatre directors to explore writers who are successful without being a brand name that automatically pulls an audience.
*Tarun is the author of Hope Factory: Business Ideas For Everyone and has directed a short film, Honesty Weds Dishonesty)
