LAHORE: After a gap of almost an year, popular children play Ainak Wala Jin has been revived and its first show is scheduled to be held at the Alhamra Art Center, The Mall, on Sunday (today).

The show is free of cost and will be held every Sunday in keeping with the past practice.

A generation has grown up watching the three-decade old children’s favourite play. It’s an educative show in which children are shown different segments conveying messages of peace, harmony, love for the country, respect for teachers and the value of truth. The full dress rehearsal of the show was held last week which was witnessed by Alhamra team including Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Zulfiqar Ali Zulfi. The show will have a new set, lighting system, décor and costumes. There will be a grand ceremony to mark the resumption of the show on Sunday in which film and television personalities have also been invited.

The popular play for children was first televised by PTV Lahore centre in February 1993 and it gave noted artistes to the television. Families in general and children in particular would glue to the TV sets to watch Ainak Wala Jin. Munna Lahori who performed the key role of Zakoota Jin has passed away. His two children will now perform in the show. Similarly, Nusrat Ara who played Bill Batori is no more and her role will now be done by some other actor. New faces have been inducted in the show.

Haseeb Pasha who plays the role of Hamoon Jadoogar told Dawn that the play was televised from 1993 to 2002 and after a one-year gap, it was resumed on television and 87 episodes were televised till 2003. The LAC started staging the play on Nov 17, 2003 and it continued till last year earning immense popularity among families.

It’s been enjoyed by some international personalities as well, he said while recalling that on the inaugural ceremony of Shaukat Khanum hospital, Lady Diana watched this play. He said Unicef showed this play in more than 2,000 schools and former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif used it as a medium to raise awareness among schoolchildren about dengue.

“We are starting the show with a new passion and hopeful that it will continue to take place as children love this show and come in good numbers on Sundays to enjoy it,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2022