Patriotic Play “Watan Ki Mitti” and Balochi Drama “Kanda Na Baiya” Staged at Awami Theatre Festival

By: Aziz Khatri

KARACHI: The ongoing Awami Theatre Festival, organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, continued with full enthusiasm as the patriotic stage play “Watan Ki Mitti” was presented on the 15th day of the festival, followed by the Balochi drama “Kanda Na Baiya” on the 16th day. Both productions received appreciation from theatre lovers for their strong performances and meaningful messages.

The stage play “Watan Ki Mitti”, written and directed by H. Iqbal, featured performances by Shanzay, Sitara Zaidi, Faiza Malik, Earj Shah, Javed Iqbal, Ashraf Chiragh, Imran Nawaz, Muhammad Altamash, and Honey Khan. The drama revolved around a retired army officer who was injured during war and his two sons. According to the storyline, the elder son serves in the Rangers, while the younger son, driven by greed, becomes involved in anti-state and anti-Pakistan activities in collaboration with India.

The plot takes a tragic turn when the younger son brings foreign elements into Pakistan, resulting in the martyrdom of his elder brother. When the father discovers the betrayal, he attempts to stop his younger son, who then plans to flee abroad. In a powerful dialogue, the father declares that he would never trade even a handful of his homeland’s soil for the wealth of the world. For the sake of national security, he ultimately shoots his own son. Later arrested by the police, the father questions whether eliminating a traitor should not be considered a medal, just as killing enemies at the border had earned him honors. Declaring himself a servant of Pakistan and stating that no institution or individual is above the law, he sacrifices his life, delivering a strong patriotic message.

On the 16th day, the Balochi drama “Kanda Na Baiya”, written and directed by Danish Baloch, was staged. The cast included Abid Sober, Agha Qadir, Asma Munir, Atta Deedag, Atta Gul, Javed Baloch, Lala Muhammad Askani, Muqadas Baloch, Rafeeq Laasi, Sagar Siddiqui, Shakeel Murad, Waqas Baloch, and Zeeshan Danish.

The story of “Kanda Na Baiya” centered on a poor family struggling to survive. The head of the household is portrayed as a former international boxer, while his son-in-law Riaz, once a footballer, earns a living by driving a rickshaw purchased on installments. The drama highlights daily hardships as a rickshaw owner arrives to collect installments and an electricity bill collector visits the house simultaneously. A political leader, Samandar Khan, later seeks votes from the family, but they refuse due to lack of trust.

The narrative offers hope through the character of Akbar, the grandson, who promises to study hard, become a senior officer, and bring prosperity to the area. The elder of the family places his faith in the younger generation and emphasizes working for the country’s development and progress. The drama concluded with passionate slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad.”

Both plays were praised for their powerful storytelling, strong performances, and messages of patriotism, social responsibility, and hope, further strengthening the cultural impact of the Awami Theatre Festival.