LARKANA: The Larkana chapter of the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) launched 15-day Sindhi Drama Festival here on Thursday night to help revive stage drama, encourage new talent and draw people`s attention towards the various social ills plaguing the society.

MNA Ayaz Soomro who inaugurated the festival said the council`s initiative would contribute to efforts for reviving Sindhi stage drama, which had lost its appeal due to a flood of TV dramas.He said that it would surely infuse new spirit in the art and would not only produce new artists but also draw society`s attention towards literary and recreational activities and introduce new ideas and trends.

He appreciated the determination of drama sponsors and said it would contribute tremendously to portraying culture, traditions, human right issues and other social subjects.

Mr Soomro said that civilised nations always kept their traditions alive. `We are proud of our rich culture and ancient civilisation,he said.

He regretted slow pace of construction work of art complex and said that he would talk to Larkana commissioner in this regard and ask him expedite the work. The credit of constructing open air theater and establishing the council went to Pakistan Peoples Party, he said, adding that the council had grown to be a hub of literary activities with the passage of time.

Abdul Sattar Khuhawar, vice chairman of the council, briefed the audience on the activities of the council and said that a drama written by different writers would bestaged every night during the 15-day festival.

He said that juries would compile results and on conclusion of day three awards would be given to the best dramas and the performers, writers and others who had had a role in staging dramas.

On the first day of the festival, a drama Suhina manhoon Sindh ja (handsome people of Sindh) written and directed by Muzaffar Baloch was staged in the open air theater.

The theme revolved around traditional Sindhi marriage, showing all elements of a culturally rich drama which kept the audience spell-bound. The outstanding performance of famous artists attired in traditional costumes earned applause of the audience.

The drama`s moral was that one should adhere to traditions and discourage the dangerous trendofaerial firing in marriage functions, which often cost dearly and led to tragedies.

The last drama would be staged on Sept 29 and the prize distribution ceremony would be held on Oct 1 in which Sindh Minister for Culture Syed Sardar Shah would give away prizes among the best performers, said Mr Khuhawar.