Sarmad Khoosat’s Jhaanjar Di Paawaan Chankaar is a sight for the sore eyes!

Being a good sport, I will not give away any major spoilers in this review while keeping the curiosity of the play intact. We’ll start with the basic introductions, the play is titled Jhaanjar Di Paawaan Chankaar. As difficult as the name might sound, it is adopted from a very famous song of the ever loved Malika e Taranum Noor Jahan. The director and producer of the play are Sarmad Sultan Khoosat and OLOMPOLO which is a production house of the Sarmad’s very own sister. As evident as it already is, when two power houses come together, something wonderful is bound to be expected from them as is the case of this very play, Jhaanjar Di Pawan Chankaar.

The play is a sight for sore eyes  right from the first minute. With its excellent direction and beautiful prop selection, one actually enjoys what goes on the stage. There are not a lot of changes when it comes to the set but that simplicity leaves its own charm in the play. Keeping the props aside, the main feature of the play is it’s very strong cast comprising of the infamous and talented Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, Samiya Mumtaz, Zain Afzal and Iman Shahid.

For all those who have seen the serious side of Sarmad’s acting in drama serials and movies such as Manto, Baaghi and Motorcycle girl, it will be a treat to watch the great actor and director shine on stage in a comical role and trust me, you will end up rolling on the floor laughing, in actuality.

Sarmad essays the role of a struggling actor trying to find his big break in the acting industry, living next to Hamza in a small apartment. Sarmad is shown as a high spirited, encouraging and loving individual who is preparing himself to play the role of a person who is obsessed with Shabnam and wants to be exactly like her.

Samiya with her calming expressions and stern face plays the role of Mrs Sohail. A loving, over protective and obsessive mother who wants to be there for her child no matter what even though he doesn’t want her to be there for him (kind of like every 28 year old’s story). Iman Shahid plays the role of the director of the film in which Sarmad is looking for his big break. She has a very minute but powerful role in the play. As for Zain Afzal, he stars the show by playing the leading role, Hamza, a blind yet very normal person trying to fight the stereotypes of society and wanting to live his life like any normal person without chaining himself to the shackles of his disability.

In the end without breaking the plot of the play, I’ll say that Jhaanjar Di Paawaan Chankaar is your best bet, if you’re looking for a play with the typical Punjabi touch of film and intense societal issues all mixed with more than an enough laughter and comedy. Don’t forget to watch the play Jhaanjar Di Paanwaan Chankaar at the Karachi Arts Council this Saturday and Sunday, 28^th and 29^th of April, 2018, you’ll thank me for the review later.