Kerala - Thrissur   

‘Talibanisation hits cultural activities’

Thrissur: Pakistani dramatist Shahid Nadeem said here on Sunday that Talibanisation of Pakistan is affecting cultural activities in the country.

He was addressing a seminar on ‘Theatre movements’ at the Second International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK- 2009) on Sunday.

“Censorship still exists in Pakistan. Invisible hands of the Taliban control you. Ultra conservative religious policies control cultural life. But one has to be very careful while dealing with the Taliban. Ajoka Theatre, of which I am a part, has criticised religious fundamentalism. But the troupe has done this sensibly. It does not provoke the Taliban senselessly. It does not stage plays in Taliban strongholds such as Swat and Waziristan,” he added.

He said Ajoka Theatre did not believe in criticism for the sake of criticism.

“We respect people’s feelings. We respect plurality of opinion.”

Doordarshan director C.K. Thomas said evolution of theatre in Malabar was closely related to social changes.

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