LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre’s famous presentation "Jhalli Kithay Javay", a Punjabi play by Shahid Nadeem, thrilled the audience at Lahore Arts Council's Theatre Festival Thursday evening at Hall No 2, Mall Road.
Prominent personalities and the audience from different walks of life viewed the show and admired the play’s theme, message and performances. The evergreen play, directed by Nirvaan Nadeem, is a multidimensional depiction of the societal pressures and domination faced by Pakistani women.
It portrayed the story of a young bride named ‘Jhalli’ whose husband goes abroad immediately after the wedding and is unable to return because of demands of his family. Nobody wants to welcome or help the new bride. In an insensitive environment the only expression of her anguish is through hysterical outbursts.
The turning point of the play comes when her family regarded “Jhalli” (Madiha) as having been possessed by evil spirits. In an attempt to cure her family members who are from a poor rural area take the Jhalli from one spiritual healer to another without success. The story is linked by two narrators in the traditional style and is mostly illustrated through dance, music and dialogues in verse forms.All actors who performed in the play at 21st Alhamra theatre festival were students of Ajoka Institute’s Acting Class. Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Ather Ali Khan said the festival was a free entertainment for people of Lahore.
