LAHORE: The 8th day of the Ajoka Dosti International Theatre Festival at Alhamra featured Maharani Jinda, a joint production by Rang Manch Rang and an Australian theatre troupe.

The play brought to life the powerful story of Maharani Jind Kaur (Jindan), the youngest & beloved wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After the assassination of her husband and his successors, the Maharani ruled the crumbling Sikh Empire as regent for her son, Duleep Singh, resisting the British forces and power-hungry courtiers.

The performance captured her wit, courage and leadership during a turbulent time in Punjab’s history. It also connected to Lahore through her granddaughter, Princess Bamba Sofia, who later settled in the city, adding a deeper historical context.

One of the most emotional moments of the play was the portrayal of Maharani’s separation from her son and his meeting with the British royalty in England. The audience was deeply moved, applauding the actors for their powerful portrayal of this poignant story.

Australian actor Karee, who played the role of Maharani, expressed her pride in performing this historical story in Lahore, saying, “It was an honor to portray this part of history here in Punjab.”

Earlier in the day, the festival also featured a beautiful rendition of classic film song Awara Hoon from India film Awara, which added to the nostalgic atmosphere of the day.

Ajoka Executive Director Shahid Nadeem said, “tomorrow marks the final day of the festival, closing with Trunk Tales from Indian Punjab”.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2024