LAHORE: Certain commercial theatres faced a crackdown during Eid days in the province for promoting obscenity or lacking a license to stage plays from the Punjab Council of Arts (PCA) and other related institutions.

The PCA set up a monitoring cell to check obscenity and nudity in dramas performed on Eidul Fitr. Officers from BS-17 to BS-19 were assigned duties in the field across the province. Theatres across Punjab were being monitored, and institutions concerned were immediately informed about violations of SOPs.

Lahore Deputy Commissioner (DC) Rafia Haider took action against theatres based on PCA complaints. The Bari Theatre in Iqbal Town was stopped from presenting a drama because its license expired in 2023. The Model Town assistant commissioner sealed the Sitara theatre in Gujumta Nishtar Colony for showing a drama without a license and censor rehearsal approval. The City theatre in Kasur was also sealed on the orders of Kasur DC Irshad Bhatti for violating SOPs. Also, warnings were issued to dancer Dedar Multani and Masoma at Tamaseel Theatre in Lahore, Afreen Pari and Feroza at Naz theatre in Lahore, Mehak Chudhry at Naina Theatre in Khanewal, and many others over SOP violations.

PCA Executive Director Syed Bilal Haider told Dawn that Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha are festivals intended for religious duties, social activities, and some entertainment aspects. Stage drama is also considered a source of entertainment for citizens, but immoral activities and obscene acts are unacceptable in any case.

He said that for the first time on Eidul Fitr, PCA officers from Grade 17 to 19 were assigned monitoring duties, and the results were highly encouraging as “we received very few complaints about obscenity and nudity”.

He said commercial theatre, performed in various cities of Punjab, has established a strong popularity. “In the past, people used to come with their families to watch commercial theatres,” Mr Haider said.

“Now, however, the element of obscenity has prevailed, causing the activity to become reserved only for male attendees at festivals. It has become a theatre that men come to see, but the artists working in it are women whose audacity only adds to their fame and remuneration. In this race, every actress or dancer wants to outdo each other.”

Mr Haider said that with the implementation of the Punjab Theatrical Performance Ordinance of 2023, obscenity and nudity can be controlled. Commercial theatres will be able to create quality content like in the past, content that is creatively strong as well as financially strong. This will attract the attention of audiences for a long time and promote a positive social atmosphere for entertainment.

Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2024