CHAAK: The Final Play by S. M. Azhar Alam Directed by Uma Jhunjhunwala

About Chaak

Chaak is the last play written by founder-director S. M. Azhar Alam. The play focuses on the challenges and issues faced by Indian Muslims during the partition of Pakistan and East Pakistan in 1971. It depicts the struggles of a Muslim family, featuring Gaffur Khan (the father) caught in unending court trials for inherited family property, Arshad (the middle son) showing emotions of vexation, misery, and anxiety, along with Zohra (the mother), Majid (the eldest son), and Razia (the youngest daughter), each dealing with their own trauma and travails.

Writer: S. M. Azhar Alam

S. M. Azhar Alam was the founder and artistic director of Little Thespian. He was a set designer, actor, author, and the editor of the Urdu theatre magazine Rang Rasa. He received awards including Best Playwright in 2001 for Namak ki Gudia, Best Director in 2007 for Question Mark by Pashchim Banga Natya Akademi, and the Nemichandra Jain Best Playwright Award 2020 for Roohein. He wrote and adapted 8 plays, acted in over 70 plays, and directed more than 35 plays. He also played leading roles in the feature films The Four Curses and Geru Patra.

Director: Uma Jhunjhunwala

Uma Jhunjhunwala is a founder of Little Thespian and a member of the Paschimbanga Hindi Academy. Active in theatre since 1984 and a recipient of a Junior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India, she has directed 32 full-length plays, 48 stories, 12 one-act plays, and 8 children's plays, while acting in over 50 plays. She has received numerous awards, including the Yashaswini Award 2025, Nari Sarokar Samman 2024, Niaz Ahmed Khan Award 2023, and many others.

Director's Note

Uma Jhunjhunwala noted that directing the play was a privilege and a tribute to Azhar's legacy and artistic vision. She was drawn to the play by its universal language, which transcends borders, castes, and cultures, and highlights the struggles of lower-middle-class families worldwide.

About Little Thespian

Little Thespian is a Hindi theatre group in Kolkata founded by S. M. Azhar Alam and Uma Jhunjhunwala. The group has produced 34 full-length plays, numerous stories, and organises an annual national theatre festival in Kolkata, theatre training courses, seminars, and publishes a bilingual theatre magazine called Rang Rasa.