Keeping in mind that the overall standard and reputation of our teleplays is high, the fact that this play was absorbing and sad doesn't truly surprise. But that is perhaps a kind of a left-handed compliment. Let me get straight to the point. The play Hawa, telecast on PTV on Monday night after Khabartnama was thematically strong, and production-wise compelling enough to make one watch it right till the end. No switching of channels, no lowering of interest and attention. It was a play, very focused, intense, and sad. I repeat this sadness factor, which often makes plays very absorbing for me.
I am unsure of whether this play was a repeat telecast but even if there were viewers who were seeing it for the second time it must have been worth it. Directed by Farooq Mengal, the leading characters were four only. Farooq Zameer, Uzma Gilani, Arifa Siddiqui and Kashif Mahmood.
The central theme appeared to revolve around Arifa Siddiqui who played an obedient daughter-in-law to Uzma Gilani, whose son she marries who is actually already married to a girl in England. Arifa plays a daughter to Farooq Zameer at the same time, and in a way the writer highlights with poignance the manner in which she is trapped between two families, and a world of values that is steadily changing. Arifa has always been a powerful actress, and that needs to be said. There is nothing to say about such seasoned artistes like Uzma Gilani and Farooq Zameer. Whose names alone are strong enough factors to make one spend time and watch a play even in this day and age of satellite TV. They have stood the test of time and Talat Hussain is another name that comes to mind in this context. Even in this satellite TV era they have stood out taller than the rest.
There were many themes implied or explicit, shall we say, there was the good daughter-in-law, there was the good daughter, there was the uncomplaining young pretty wife. Of course there was an idealisation, but that was acceptable to drive home the point. The script was not cluttered with too many characters, nor congested with words, and overdone dialogues. And to lend the sadness that music could bring in to enhance the emotional impact, and drive home the impasse in the lives of the major characters there was Tina Sani's rendering of a classical Ustad Zahoor composition, which she had sung 24 years ago. It was the song which the producer Ishrat Ansari had recorded to really launch Tina Sani, now a towering name as we all know, I am told that this song (in Raag Bhairween) with its lyrics in Punjabi centred around the thought of an unexpressed love or pain, which was symbolised by tears alone. "Ankhian wasian cham cham" words to that effect.
I have a feeling that this play was not a very old one, as there was a reference to the new world order in the dialogues, a sort of a post 9/11 context. The script focused on the loneliness of Uzma Gilani playing a fair minded, person who appreciates the suffering of her daughter-in-law, and the fact that her son had cheated the family by marrying Arifa Siddiqui. He marries her, goes back to England, the purpose of the Nikah being only to have someone to take care of his mother, as she lives alone, and is seriously ill, possibly struggling with an attack of paralysis.
In a TV context where watching TV is to seek light-hearted entertainment, often without social comment or purpose, here was a play that sought to tread a more difficult path. And director Farooq Mengal journeyed well, and confidently. A word of appreciation for the camera too.
There was a time when to enable TV viewers to be able to watch Television, newspapers x carried TV timings regularly, and in reasonable size. We have now come to a stage with a growth in the electronic media and competition that their are large advertisements in colour as well in the newspapers wherein are publicised programmes that TV channels want viewers to see. I am not sure if even then people tune in to those very channels and for those very programmes, that are advertised. That these print media advertisements are informative to an extent is something that needs to be taken into account.
I have in front of me two print media advertisements that relate to the Geo TV channel, with regard to two thematically strong TV programmes, Capital Talk and Jawab Deh. The first advertisement was about the subject "why another operation in Wana? and the questions centred around "Can the Jirga's political agent solve the problems? Military operation in Wana would be expanded or not? What is the best solution of the problem in South Waziristan? The participants were ex-DG ISI Lt Gen (R) Asad Durrani, Imran Khan MNA, Maj Gen (R) Jamshed Ayaz, President, Institute of Regional Studies, and Riaz Pirzada, MNA The host Hamid Mir. The other is a print media advertisement which projects Jawab Deh asks "should centre only be responsible for defence, currency and foreign affairs?" And the advertisement text says that Kala Bagh Dam could trigger a civil war in the country. And that the 1973 constitution doesn't give true shape of the federation. It also says that "Pakistan would have been strengthened if constitutional rights were given to Northern Areas after independence."
One wishes to make two points having said this above. That very often the tone, mood and content of these programmes is very angry, bitter, and even uncompormising when it comes to the stand that some participants take on various national, regional and international issues. And it is in sharp contrast to the mood and content of the PTV current affairs shows. I would like to leave it here for now, and would like to return to this as it is a recurring experience. The question that arises is what kind of a situation is likely to emerge with all the new channels, and changes and challenges that are coming, and from which there is no escape. Technology alone is going to be such a decisive factor that there is no way of escaping the onslaught.
Watching Television on Tuesday night: There were two different points that arose from having two different channels: First the ARY news at 10pm which had as its lead story an audio visual recording of the statements of two of the men wanted in the Wana operation context. It was an ARY exclusive and which reflected the gravity and the grimness of the situation. There was a warning with reference to what had happened, and what could happen if the present policies were to continue. I do not wish to say more on this, except that sometimes one feels that the satellite TV is contributing much more towards stretching the frontiers of freedom of expression in this society.
Later I watched once again the Kamran Khan programme, which goes on air late at night, when many of us are sleepy, and even weary, perhaps. He had focus on not just Farooq Leghari joining the PML with his National Alliance, but also a thought provoking focus on the National Accountability Bureau's difficulties with regard to getting some defaulters who have backed out of what he termed as their promise and commitment. Once again a reflection of the way things are going.
The other item that he mentioned was about cricketer Shoaib Akhtar partying in Mumbai, and there are also reports revealing that he has been spotted in Mumbai's nightclubs. Keep in mind that he has also been a centre of attention for his recent poor performance in the cricket series against India. Reports indicate that he is in India now for doing some TV commercials. Which reminds me that he has already done some commercials, like some other cricketers including Inzamam, one of which relates to the anti-polio campaign of the National Institute of Health, of the Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan. The NIH has been spending a sizeable sum on TV commercials in recent years, and it would be interesting to know whether there is any other ministry which is spending as much on advertising. The question that viewers have repeatedly asked is whether some of that money would be better spent on providing actual health care. A whether Shoaib Akhtar is a good choice for advertising visual. But then the way cricketers have been in the news, and the match fixing that is forever in people's minds, one wonders which cricketers would be the best bargain. The ones that are making their debut? One is compelled to wonder whether cricketers of yesterday would have done this kind of modeling. Little wonder, perhaps, that while there is more money in the game, there isn't that kind of respect and love for crikceters in this day and age.
On this subject of cricket, one cannot but note that the poor turnout of crowds for the test matches was disappointing and deplorable. The answer and explanation that TV telecasting live the matches was the reason is not very convincing. It also needs to be said here that the quality of cricket commentary has declined enormously, especially English cricket commentary. Sometimes it is poor reflection on the country to see that quality of English being spoken. Some of the English newscasters on Pakistani channels also need to be changed if they cannot improve. But the point is whether the men and women backstage in the news room who control, and manage them know the job they are supposed to be doing. But let me not conclude on this sour note. Let us be grateful for the Pakistan-India cricket that was played, telecast, and in a trouble free environment, at a time when there has been so much violence in this society otherwise.