LAHORE: Munir Raj, a distinguished playwright, who wrote over 160 plays for theatre, radio and television passed away in Lahore on Monday. He was 74.

With Raj’s death, the theatre lovers have lost a wonderful voice who wrote socially relevant plays, reflective of Punjab’s culture and tradition. He wrote plays on behaviours and attitudes of common folks.

Raj was hospitalised for the last months as he was suffering from heart and lung issues. Funeral prayers for him were held in his native city of Kasur. He is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter.

Munir Raj was born on April 15, 1947 in Kasur.

He did matriculation from a local school in 1963 and got BA degree from the Govt Degree College Kasur. In 1970, he got MA Political Science from the Punjab University. During his university days, he had started writing plays for theatre besides doing acting before stepping into direction as well.

His journalistic career also helped him in understanding socially relevant issues as he worked for daily Musawaat for over a decade and did journalism for daily Khabrain and other newspapers for seven years.

Raj not only wrote for theatre but also for radio and television. He was a regular feature at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall. He used to spend his evenings at Alhamra Adabi Baithak, fervently smoking cigarettes and having tea. He would discuss politics, theatre, music and many other such topics.

Munir Raj chose Punjabi as language for his comedy plays and wrote in Urdu to address serious issues. Among his famous plays include Niazm Saqa, No Parking, Uran Tashtari, Chalti Ka Naam Gari, Rolla Daj Da, Saadi Vi Suno,Top Class, Deewanay Log, Mein Aur Meri Meena and Ab Hans Do.

Raj also wrote two books, namely Pakistan Mein Stage Daramay ka Irtaqa and Munir Raj Key Tareekhi Daramay.

He got associated with the Lahore Arts Council at the start of his career as soon as he started writing plays. He was against commercialism and vulgarity in stage plays.

LAC Executive Director Sarah Rasheed expressed deep sorrow and grief at the demise of Munir Raj, saying he was an institution and he had his own style of writing.

Qaiser Javed, a director and producer at Alhamra, said the plays of Raj were neither translations nor borrowed ideas. “His plays were very much woven in the very culture of Punjab and the rich tradition of Punjab,” he said. Javed directed many of Raj’s plays.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2024