Pakistan is a nation where majority of its population resides in rural areas yet on Pakistani media surprisingly the number of hours devoted to rural population are astonishingly little. However it has not always been like this PTV especially Lahore centre came out with some master pieces concerning the village life of Punjab. Whether it was the brilliant Waaris! A true road deserter, the giggles of sona chaandi, or the majestic sceneries of Qasmi Kahaani the colors and shades of village life were at display in an astounding shape. Down the road came I think the most beautiful, well executed and well scripted play Raahain. Based on an equally majestic novel by Mansha Yaad “Tanwa Tanwa Taara”. It was perhaps one of the best adaptations of a Punjabi novel.
The story was based in a village of Punjab with some of the plot based in Lahore. Ghayoor Akhtar plays the role of a chaudhry and with his powerful voice and lovely persona he was a feudal lord personified. His “takiya Kalaam” (Allah Khaair tay Beray Paar) became immensely popular. Naseem Vicky played his son. And in front of these evil ones were the good lads. Saleem sheikh played the stereo typical hero. The “Gaaon Kaa Masoom Naujwaan” who is doing Law at Lahore. Tauqeer Nasir played the Punjabi village version of Robin Hood. While Masood akhtar played the role of “Sajjada Nasheen” another integral part of our village’s problems. The family at Lahore was headed by Habib who played the last memorable performance of his storied career spanning decades. The list of ingredients our innocent heroin and her evil scheming mother.
What made this play special was not the central track because it was very common to see the suppression by feudal and the plight of villagers. The magic in this play came from tiny moments. The attention to minute details and characters which were an integral part of our life. Who can forget the “Chaudhry sahaaab’s Miraasi”and the scene where this dialogue came:
Cahudhry: abb tau mujhe lagtaa hai kai tu mera nahin main ter jhoota khaata hun!
Miraasi: Allah naa karey chaudhry sahaab, yeah jhoota buhat burri chiz hoti hai. Aadmi ki duum nikal aati hai aur hilaatey hilaatey dukhney lagti hai.
Another truly mesmerizing scene was the performance of two “Bhaands” one of the very first appearances of Sakhwat naaz in the marriage of Chaudhry’s Son. I still remember when the elder bhaand is imitating various people’s deaths and then the Chotaa(skhawat Naaz) asks him how the poor man dies he says he just dies like this and then the man lies down and he is dead. I remember missing a heart beat as I saw this scene and it still makes me sad to remember it. There were many other characters which are there in every village. The hunch backed shop keeper. The Gold smith’s daughter. The list just goes on and on.
There have been many classics aired from PTV about village life. But the one play that captures the complete portrait of a village is this one. If you want to show your kids how a village in Punjab is. This is the play you should sit and watch with them again
P.S: sorry about the picture it is the only one i could find.
Written By: Omair Ahmed Khan
