Stage Plays “Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha” and Comedy “Ulta Shulta” Entertain Audiences on Day Three

By: Aziz Khatri 

  Karachi: The Awami Theatre Festival 2026, organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, continued with great enthusiasm on its third day as two stage plays — Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha and the comedy Ulta Shulta — enthralled theatre enthusiasts at Auditorium II. A large number of spectators turned up to witness the performances, which were met with applause, laughter, and appreciation.

The first play of the evening, Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha, was staged at 6:00 pm. Written and directed by Sohail Abbasi, the production featured performances by Shar Ghazal, Irma Ahmed, Bobi Kamal, and Farrukh Darbar. Through humor and satire, the play highlighted various challenges faced by Karachi, including public apathy, flaws in the education and healthcare systems, shortages of water, electricity, and gas, as well as environmental issues. The play successfully blended entertainment with social commentary, resonating strongly with the audience.

The second performance of the evening, the comedy Ulta Shulta, received an equally warm response. Directed by Rizwan Mirza and written by H. Iqbal, the play featured Ashraf Chiragh, Imran Nawaz, Shanzy, Sitara Zaidi, and Ayesha Jibran. The storyline revolves around a wealthy family and delivers multiple social messages through witty dialogue and situational comedy.

The plot centers on a businessman who wants to marry his daughter to his sister’s son living abroad, while the sister, in turn, wishes to arrange her son’s marriage with her brother’s child. One son is obsessed with Charlie Chaplin, while the other aspires to become a cricketer and proudly refers to himself as a superstar. The girl insists on first assessing whether life with such a “superstar” would be practical before agreeing to the proposal.

The narrative takes an interesting twist when the son of the businessman’s friend leaves home in anger and begins working as a driver at the sister’s house, where he falls in love with her daughter—only to later discover his true identity as the businessman’s close friend’s son.

The engaging performances, sharp humor, and relatable themes made the third day of the Awami Theatre Festival a memorable experience for theatre lovers.