Islamabad:
The timeless mystique of the Sufi romance came to life on stage when the classic popular story Punjabi Saiful Malook was held in the National Council of Arts of Pakistan (PNCA).
The event, organized in collaboration with the communication of Delfines, celebrated the literary and spiritual heritage of Pakistan through a theater tribute to the iconic poem of Hazrat Mian Muhammad Bakhshsh.
Directed by the renowned writer and CEO of Dolphin Communication Astma Butt, the production paid tribute to the legendary Sufi poet whose verses continue to resonate through generations with themes of divine love, sacrifice and spiritual awakening.
The rich narration of the work and the moving actions transported Prince Saif and the Badiul Jamal Hada to the ethereal world.
The audience, which included artists, writers, intellectuals and students, was immersed in an experience with visual and emotional movement that highlighted the lasting depth of the traditions of Oral Narration of Punjab and Kashmir.
Member of the National Assembly Shazia Farid, who attended as the main guest, praised the performance and praised the vision of Astma Butt. “Giving life to Saiful Malook on stage is not just stories narration, it is a cultural preservation. This production reflects the emotional depth of our folklore and the artistic sensibility of our artists,” he said.
Other notable attendees included the organizer of the PCA Dr. Waqar Azim program; Judge Raheel Yousafzai; SAEEN EJAZ; Naveed Kanwal; Naeem Pasha; Shakeel Awan; and Abid Abbasi. All expressed admiration for the rebirth of such significant and heritage based.
The cast featured Talented Ensemble of Actors from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Including Kaleem Khan, Nirmal Ali, Arshad Khan, Shazia Adeeb, Jhalak Ali, Raiha Yousaf, Shama Adil, AFZAL LATIFI, RAHEEL EJAZ, Shabbir Shah, Aslam Mughal MEHMOOD, MEHBOOB ILYAS, MUHAMMAD ALI, MUMTAZ KHAN, FAROOQ JANI, NOOR AND OTHERS.
There was an outstanding moment during the powerful recitation of LATIFI Afzal of the verses of Mihammad Bakhsh, which evoked a spiritual atmosphere and caused spontaneous applause. The evocative address, traditional music and the design of atmospheric sets of the work are combined to offer a totally immersive theatrical experience.
In her final comments, the director Astma Butt described the production “to work of love”. He added: “Our goal was not only to entertain but reconnect the public with its roots, its language and the beauty of our popular traditions.”
