A review on Pakistani Drama theatre play, Gardish-e-Rung-e-Junoon (2017). It was performed at NAPA’s International Theatre Festival 2017.
+ Crew
- Directed by Fraz Chhotanni
- Written by Naz
+ Note
The system of injustice and the collision of the institutions of state with the media and elite of the country are the central focus of the play that seeks a change in this unjust system.
+ Full Cast
- Najma Kifayat as Nuura
- Owais Mubashir as Nazir
- Ashfaq Ahmed as Qadir
- Samhan Ghazi as Police Man
- Asma Noor as Sakeena
- Fraz Chhotani as Journalist
- Pashmina Aqeel as Bachi
- Muhammad Akhtar as Baray Molvi
- Akbar Islam as Sarpanj
- Uzma Sabeen as Bibi Ji
- Hasnain as Aadmi #1
- Farhan Malik as Aadmi #2
- Zuhair Zubair as Aadmi #3
- Tanveer Gill as Aadmi #4
+ Plot
It is about a mother who is seeking justice for her 10-year-old daughter who was raped by unknown culprit. After refusal for help by the station police and tribal judicial department, the mother tries to find the culprit on her own.
+ High Points
i – Najma Kifayat played her role splendidly as the victim’s mother, where on hard times she is struggling very badly to look for answers. It is good to see you in a different, mature and in a lead role.
ii – As I have always said that Owais Mubashir is a brilliant actor where he is easily adaptable in any role given to him. To play the role as antagonist, he went in depths of the character’s wants and diabolical schemes. Well done! Other Honorable Mentions: Ashfaq Ahmed, Fraz Chhotani and Akbar Islam.
+ Low Points
i – The play had too much shouting & screaming. I understand the sensitivity of the play’s topic and that the mother is now left alone in front of village that refuses to believe or even help her to investigate — even then the anguish of the protagonist where she sees her fate hopeless could be controlled with less screaming but more facial pain.
Her body movement could be shown as defeated, look surrounded by hallucinations or the unrest spirit of the victim asking for help… there are many things that could be done to reduce the number of times she shouts or scream. Otherwise, it makes the viewer very uncomfortable to sit & watch the play with already sensitive topic as main plot.
ii – The controls behind the play’s lighting was clumsy. An actor who is still giving his monologue yet the stage’s lights is switched off. The audience was left in pitch black darkness while the actor’s speech continued.
iii – The ending seemed like very a fairy tale one. I heard that the original ending was quite different but was it was refused to make the final cut. However, this ending was too unrealistic in the given situation.
+ Overall
Gardish-e-Rung-e-Junoon has many delicate, moving moments but falls short in capturing the audience hearts in the same way as this courageous story was meant to be.
Rate: 2.75 out of 5 stars
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