On the eve of 15th of April, the best among the world of journalism were awarded in New York City. A luncheon was held to accolade distinguished works in the fields of newspaper, online journalism, literature and musical composition etc.
To the delight of all the Pakistani’s and of course the art lovers, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama went to Disgraced a play by Mr. Ayad Akhtar. The American actor and writer born to Pakistani parents has always been applauded for his work but the prize for his drama was greeted with great humbleness on his part. The Pulitzer Prize for Drama is given for a distinguished play by an American author, dealing with American life and the winner is also presented with a check of Ten thousand dollars.
Disgraced, the winning drama took the prize by outshining two tough competitors in “Rapture, Blister, Burn” by Gina Gionfriddo –a searing comedy that examined the psyches of two women in midlife & “4000 Miles” by Amy Herzog –a drama that shows acute understanding of human idiosyncrasy. The play by Ayad Akhter himself revolves around a successful Pakistani born lawyer who for his own reasons did not want to be related to his heritage. The prize was awarded to Disgraced for being a:
“A moving play that depicts a successful corporate lawyer painfully forced to consider why he has for so long camouflaged his Pakistani Muslim heritage.”
It was critically acclaimed all over the theatre world when the drama premiered in the American Theatre Company of Chicago back in January. The overwhelming response and applauds led the team to Lincoln Center New York where it was produced before the audience for a longer time. After receiving the most prestigious award for new-writing, the drama goes on to play in Bush Theatre London on the 17th of May.
A New Yorker by birth, Ayad Akhtar has spent most of his life exploring the horizons of art. After majoring in theater from Brown University, Providence he went on to Columbia University to earn an M.A in directing. At 42, he has had a dynamic career in his field and has been experimenting with a lot of things in the past, varying from authoring books to mentoring in acting schools. He has written several screenplays but Disgraced was his debut into the theatre world –something which he has done with grace. Ayad’s glee at the prize distribution ceremony was moving:
“It’s tough to put it into words. I think I might be dreaming.”
I wish him all the best for his future and just like the rest of Pakistan expect him to make us proud again!
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