The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Artists are a nation’s true face’

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Thursday, Jan 10, 2008
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‘Artists are a nation’s true face’

Parul Sharma

Prominent Pakistani TV and theatre couple visit ‘Theatre Utsav 2008’

Photo: Anu Pushkarna

Picture Perfect: Pakistani artistes Samina Peerzada and Usmaan Peerzada in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: “It is not the politicians who are the face of Pakistan, but writers and artists like us. So please do not form your opinion on our country on the basis of the politicians,” pleads Samina Peerzada, an eminent film, television and theatre actor from the neighbouring country.

Samina and her husband Usmaan Peerzada, who together form a prominent television and theatre couple from Pakistan, are currently here for the ongoing “Theatre Utsav 2008” organised by the National School of Drama. They were hosted by the Jamia Cultural Committee at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus on Wednesday.

“It is not just the ambassadors, but writers, artistes and poets who represent a nation. We in Pakistan have realised that we all have to take things in our own hands, all individuals have to think they are leaders and guide the nation,” she says.

Usmaan, whose father Rafi Peer was a pioneer of modern theatre in the subcontinent, spoke to the audience on how he has been carrying forward his father’s legacy. After his father’s death, Usmaan and his siblings set up the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop that organises plays and puppet shows in Pakistan.

“We have been organising the ‘World Performing Arts Festival’ in Lahore where groups from different nations participate. Diverse musical genres such as African, Rock, Pop, Folk, Jazz, Sufi Soul, and Fusion are presented at this festival. Then we also have the International Mystic Music Sufi Festival where Sufi musicians from the Muslim world come to Pakistan. We also run a museum for puppetry,” he reveals.

“We also organise youth festivals in colleges and universities giving a platform for those practising theatre. For the past almost eight years, the Government has given us more freedom in expressing ourselves,” he adds.

Talking about his puppet group, Usmaan says he acquired people to work for him from the “marginalised areas” of Pakistan: “Since there was no theatre school in Pakistan till some years ago, we did not know how to recruit people for our group. We went to some areas and interviewed young men and selected 20 of them. Eight ran away, but the rest stayed on and some of them are now the pillars of my company who are not only earning well but have also travelled across the world.”

The duo reiterated the need for greater people-to-people interaction between India and Pakistan to explore the theatre, art and culture scenario in their respective countries.

Usmaan has also offered to send some of his legendary father’s books to Jamia so that students can have access to his work, while Samina urged the Jamia authorities to facilitate exchange of students between the two countries.

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