David Ackert said, “Actors are willing to give their entire lives to a moment – to that line, that laugh, that gesture, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul.”
If I was to name a few people on whom this particular saying holds true invariably, my foremost choices, incidentally, would be the ones who in their lives have been the cause of laughter on many millions of faces. And in death, have brought immense sadness to their innumerable fans scattered all over the world.
I refer, as I am sure all of you would have worked out by now, to the actors who’ve made their mark upon the history of theatre and drama in Pakistan, and who all have left millions mourning, leaving the world in a rather quick succession to each other, Liaquat Soldier, Mastana, Babbu Baraal and now, Moin Akhtar. I feel sure there cannot be a doubt about the emptiness that fills us, the deafening silence that was once uncountable laughs and the sad faces that were once elated with smiles and twinkles in the eyes, having listened to any one of these four cracking jokes at a function, a ceremony, or merely a small gathering. Their talent never left them, their ability never deserted them. The class that belonged to them was unparalleled, and the way they carried themselves about, as well as their conduct, spoke volumes about their dedication towards what they were destined to do all their life; fill other people’s miserable life with happiness.
Needless to say, they simply couldn’t have been more successful.
The people who’ve left us, realistically speaking, marked a very significant fraction of the group within our country that is dedicated towards filling our lives with laughter, making them a little more bearable; occasionally even worth living. They represented rays of hope. Their passion delivered to the audiences the image of the silver lining to the cloud; their jokes undoubtedly personifying the light at the end of the dark tunnel that has engulfed every one of us into its very depths.
We, over a period of the last 150 years, have evolved from being a nation in search of a homeland, into being a nation with their own homeland, and now into a homeland that is in search for a nation, a united group of people. It’s identity. We are a band of people devoid of identity.
Now is the time to change this reality. It’s about time we start looking within our own selves for explanations of problems that we face. A revolution of mindset, of personality, of priorities, of attitude, of life, of society, is required.
FURQAN MAZHAR
Lahore
