NAPA International Performing Arts Festival: BARI (A Play in Punjabi)
Written by: Adam Haidermota
This March, the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi is hosting the NAPA International Performing Arts Festival. From March 12th to 25th, NAPA has a packed schedule of 20 different performances which include plays, music performances, and dances. In addition to Pakistani performances, some of the events feature performing arts from countries such as Iran, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Germany. You can check out those events on our write-up of the Ongoing Events to Attend this March in Karachi
A must attend event is Bari, a play which is set to be performed on the 16th and 17th of March, and is being directed by Aqeel Ahmed. The play was written by Shahid Nadeem in 1986 during the latter stages of the oppressive Zia regime in Pakistan. The play takes the audience into a prison cell, where four women from different backgrounds are sitting. They have been arrested for various reasons; the charges include murder, dancing, and dissent.
Since Bari was first performed in 1987, the play’s themes which involve gender violence, discrimination, and discriminatory laws are still relevant. Despite women’s protection/ domestic violence prevention laws being passed in Sindh, Baluchistan, and Punjab, and another one about to pass in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, women in Pakistan still face a great deal of discrimination. Cultural attitudes, lack of proper law enforcement and large gaps in existing laws all need to be addressed.
With the Women’s Movement in Pakistan gaining steam, and the Aurat March in Karachi becoming an annual occurrence, the time has come for Pakistanis to bring women’s rights to the forefront. Plays such as Bari are a great medium for not only gaining a better understanding of women’s difficulties in Pakistan but also for having a fun night out, where audience members can enjoy some incredible acting.
NAPA provides a vital role in Karachi’s art scene, providing an exciting space for the performing arts to thrive. At their International Performing Arts Festival events, audiences can expect the best of what Karachi has to offer. Bari, by the internationally renown Aqeel Ahmed, is a must attend.
