Islamabad:
The timeless mysticism of Sufi romance came alive on stage when the classic Punjabi -FoltTale SaIFUL Malook was performed at Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
The event, which was organized in collaboration with Dolphin Communication, celebrated Pakistan’s literary and spiritual heritage through a theater -shelf to the iconic poem by Hazrat Mian Muhammad Bakhsh.
Instructed by the famous author and dolphin communication manager Asma Butt paid tribute to production the legendary sufi poems whose verses continue to resonate through generations with themes of divine love, victims and spiritual awakening.
The rich tale and soul of the play transported the audience into the essential world of Prince Saif and Fairy Badiul Jamal.
The audience that included artists, writers, intellectuals and students were submerged in a visually and emotionally moving experience that highlighted the lasting depth of Punjab and Kashmir’s oral storytelling.
Member of the National Assembly Shazia Farid, who attended as a main guest, paid tribute to the performance and praised Asma Butt’s vision. “Bringing Sa special Malook to life on stage is not just storytelling – it’s cultural preservation. This production reflects the emotional depth of our folklore and our artistic sensitivity,” she said.
Other notable participants included PNCA program organizer Dr. Waqar Azim; Judge Raheel Yousafzai; Saeen Ejaz; Naveed Kanwal; Naeem Pasha; Shakeel Awan; and Abid Abbasi. Everyone expressed admiration for revival of such meaningful and inherited content.
The crew contained a talented ensemble of actors from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, including Kaleem Khan, Nirmal Ali, Arshad Khan, Shazia Adeeb, Jhalak Ali, Raiha Yousaf, Shama Adil, Afzal Latifi, Raheel Ejaz, Shabbir Shah, Aslam Mughal, Arshad Mehmood, Arshad, Arshad Mehmood, Mboob Muhammad Ali, Mumtaz Khan, Farooq Jani, Noor and others.
A prominent moment came under Afzal Latifi’s powerful recitation by Mian Muhammad Bakhsh’s verse, which caused a spiritual atmosphere and pulled spontaneous applause. The playful direction of the play, traditional music and atmospheric set design combined to deliver a fully immersive theater experience.
In her final remarks, director Asma Butt called the production “a work of love.” She added, “Our goal was not only to entertain, but to connect the audience again with their roots, their language and the beauty of our folk traditions.”
