‘Tamasha Mere Aagay’ – PAD stages special theatre play for noble cause

DUBAI: The Pakistan Auditorium at Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) was abuzz with excitement as ‘Tamasha Mere Aagay’, a theatrical play inspired by the poetry of Mirza Ghalib, took centre stage.

Written by Danish Iqbal, this local production featured a line-up of talented actors, who worked tirelessly for 3 months to bring Ghalib’s timeless verses to life, all for a noble cause in support of Pakistan Medical Centre (PMC).

The event was attended by over 400 individuals, including Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi.

As a project of PAD, PMC is committed to providing high-standard and affordable medical care to deserving individuals. It has proudly served over 78,000 patients since its inception in 2020, and in 2023 alone, approximately 60 percent of PMC patients received free medical services through the welfare department.

With a comprehensive range of services spanning over 33 specialties, including cardiology, women’s health, radiology, ophthalmology, dentistry, and more, PMC aims to enhance healthcare access and ultimately improve community wellbeing.

Ambassador Tirmizi congratulated PAD’s team on the success of the event and remarked that he was delighted to be a part of the poetic evening orchestrated by the Association. He was deeply appreciative of PAD’s continued efforts for community engagement and welfare.

The performance was met with enthusiastic applause from a diverse audience, who appreciated the 90-minute show’s masterful blend of Ghalib’s expressive poetry. The production aimed to restore the dignity of Ghalib’s legacy, skilfully correcting misrepresentations and highlighting him as the sophisticated poet and thinker he truly was.

Syed Taha Ali, who is leading the PAD Cultural Committee and has been instrumental in staging this special play, said, “Following the success of our play last year, we decided to reignite the spirit of Urdu literature and culture for our overseas Pakistani community. The intention of ‘Tamasha Mere Aagay’ was to rekindle an appreciation for Ghalib’s work, inspiring both new audiences and long-time admirers to explore his poetry afresh and celebrate his true spirit and intellectual depth.”

The evening’s program was enriched by music from a Dubai-based musician, who set Ghalib’s selected ghazals to beautiful melodies. This combination of poetry, humour, and music made for an enchanting evening.

Zahid Hassan, PAD General Secretary, said, “It was heartening to witness our community gather and support theatre and the cause of PMC. We were ecstatic to hear all the positive feedback from our guests who thoroughly enjoyed the evening.”

The PAD cultural team extended heartfelt thanks to all the partners and supporters who contributed to the success of the event.