KARACHI May 29, 2025: The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) came alive tonight as final-year theatre students delivered a soul-stirring performance of Begum Jaan, directed by Muhammad Hassan Raza. As part of their final year showcase, the play offered a powerful blend of memory, music, and emotion leaving the audience deeply moved.

The poignant story, written by acclaimed playwright Javed Siddiqui, explores the life of Begum Jaan, a once-revered classical singer whose name was once spoken alongside legends such as Maulana Abulkalam Azad, poet Majaz, the Nawab of Bhopal, and even Jawaharlal Nehru. Now, in her twilight years, she lives in quiet seclusion with her granddaughter, Zareena, haunted by echoes of her past fame and glory.

The cast, led by standout performances from Faisal N Durrani, Nafees Qamar, and Aqsa Ayoub, commanded the stage with conviction and emotional depth. Each actor embodied their character with grace, breathing life into a narrative filled with nostalgia and lost grandeur.

Presented at the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre at NAPA, the performance was both free and open to the public, inviting theatre lovers from all walks of life to witness the future stars of Pakistani stagecraft.

Those who missed tonights performance still have a chance to catch the magic a second show is scheduled for May 30 at 4 PM.