By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: On the seventh day of the 25-day “Awami Theatre Festival 2026,” organized by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, the Punjabi stage play “Rab Diyan Rehmatan” drew enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Written by Azmat Ali and directed by Shameer Rahi, the play featured a talented cast including Bobi Kamal, Faiza Malik, Irma Ahmed, Kamal Idrees, Muhammad Shahzad, Nadeem Malik, Nasara Noor, Sajjad Bhatt, Sapna Ghazal, and Shar Ghazal, all of whom delivered powerful performances.
The story centers on Chaudhry, a father who despises daughters and believes only sons are rightful heirs. When he is first blessed with two daughters, he rejects them entirely, denying even the recitation of the Azaan in their ears. After the birth of a third daughter, he orders her to be killed, but she is secretly saved by a midwife. Despite repeated advice from his friend Allah Rakha, who reminds him of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) respect for daughters, Chaudhry remains unmoved.
Later, Allah blesses him with twin sons, but during this period, his first two daughters die of illness. Chaudhry’s fortunes begin to decline as the sons, whom he once adored, act against him, coercing him to sign property documents, eventually leaving him paralyzed. In contrast, his friend’s daughter supports him—and is revealed to be his long-lost third daughter. In this moment, Chaudhry realizes that he had misjudged Allah’s blessings throughout his life.
The play’s central message is profound: daughters are mercies, not burdens, and while material blessings can be accounted for, true mercies are divine gifts. It also raises a thought-provoking question about modern social attitudes, highlighting how children sometimes abandon parents in the pursuit of wealth.
The audience praised the play’s compelling storyline, nuanced performances, and its powerful moral about respect, family, and divine blessings.
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