LARKANA: A special ceremony followed by stage drama Hedey hodey (here and there) was organised to honour octogenarian actor Qalandar Bakhsh Kalo at open air theatre in Arts Council of Pakistan on Saturday night.

The veteran artist was presented traditional gift of Ajrak and garlands before a large number of people who gave him a standing ovation to show their love for the actor.

Overwhelmed by the honour, Kalo shared his experiences with the audience and said that he had started his career in singing when he was young because his voice was melodious but afterwards he decided to switch over to acting and produce humorous plays to distribute laughter and happiness among people. “It gave him satisfaction to see people laughing at his performance,” he said.

He said that he had been working in plays since 1954 and he had given 67 years of his life to art and acting. “I have acted in numerous TV and radio dramas as well,” he said.

Ahmed Sultan Khoso, additional Commissioner-I and a poet in his own right, and Prof. Mukhtiar Samo, writer, were guests of honour at the programme.

Khoso said that when he was in school 42 years ago he had had an opportunity to witness a stage play in which Kalo was performing. He was an excellent actor who brought smiles to the faces of his audience through his hilarious performance, he said.

He said that artists should be valued as they dispensed message of love and peace through their work. Kalo was one of those who did their utmost to promote art and hence he was the genuine actor, he said.

Prof Mukhtiar Samo said that Kalo was among pioneers of stage plays in Larkana. He had made his name and recognition in acting on the basis of merit and unquestionable quality of work. He started working on stage when there were no facilities and no TV channels and people used to throng to theatres to witness dramas in which he performed, he said.

It was due to his qualitative work that his play Kalo in Karachi was staged and appreciated by audience in Karachi. Being a teacher he helped students of many schools in Larkana to prepare tableaus and present them on stage on various occasions, he said, adding that many of his students were themselves prominent artists of stage and TV today.

Engineer Javed Ahmed Shaikh, president of Arts Council of Pakistan, said that the council was making efforts to accord due recognition to all deserving artists and promote art and culture in the district. “In this regard, we have many programmes in the pipeline,” he said.

Shamsuddin Abbasi, deputy director of Sir Shahnawaz Memorial Library, said that he was lucky that Kalo was his teacher when he was studying in secondary school. Besides teaching his subjects he would train students in acting on stage and entertain them with his performance as well, he said.

Stage drama Hedey, hodey

One-act stage play Hedey, hodey (Here and there) written by Ayoub Gaad highlighted burning social issues and the cast Najma Kawish, Nasreen Naaz, Saleem Rashdi and Amjad Soomro drew loud applause from audience for sharp and witty dialogues and best delivery.

Sindhi Adabi Sangat

Sindhi Adabi Sangat (SAS), Larkana chapter, condemned registration of FIR against well-known poet Mushtque Bukhari and demanded it be withdrawn immediately.

At a fortnightly meeting held here on Saturday evening with prominent story writer Rauf Abbasi in the chair, writers and poets expressed solidarity with Bukhari before Oshaque Ali Aagani, Qurban Jatoi and Mushtaque Bukhari presented their literary creations for review and literary analysis.

The literati Ustad Gul Dayo, Essa Memon, Siddique Soomro, Aijaz Solangi, Roshan Totani, Manzoor Azad Shaikh, Raza Buriro, Shahmir Soomro, Zahid Ali Junejo, Musawar Mangi, Naweed Naz Bhatti, Shaikh Farazi and Farakh Janveri analysed and commented on the work.

Rauf Abbasi said in his concluding remarks that short stories presented for the review met technical as well as logical requirements and they carried a message in them in an effective manner.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2021