Actor Noor ul Hassan praises student talent at 'Rustom-o-Sohrab' closing night

Government College University (GCU) Lahore has announced the establishment of a dedicated Performing Arts department. Vice Chancellor Prof. Omer Chaudhry made the announcement during the closing night of the Government College Dramatic Club’s (GCDC) 135th annual play, Rustom-o-Sohrab.

The Urdu classic tackles Agha Hashar Kashmiri’s complex and ornate poetic script to explore profound themes of love, duty, destiny, and the tragic conflict of blood ties.

Noting the institution's historic legacy in the arts, the Vice Chancellor stated that the university has already inducted its first batch of Film and Television students this year as a preliminary step toward this academic expansion.

Veteran actor and GCU alumnus Noor ul Hassan, who attended the final performance, endorsed the academic integration of theatre. He described GCU as a foundational "nursery" for Pakistan's entertainment industry.

"These students make us immensely proud of what they are achieving today," Hassan said. Noting the success of recent alumni like Umer Darr and Talha Chahour, he predicted that the current student cast—including actors like Ahmad, Umar, and Maliha—would soon make their mark on television and film.

Hassan invoked the legacy of the late Zia Mohyeddin, an eminent Old Ravian who founded the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi, to emphasize the need for formal institutional support.

"If an Old Ravian can establish NAPA, what are we waiting for?" Hassan asked. "We have departments for robotics and modern sciences; it is high time we formally establish a Dramatics department here."

He urged society to recognize the arts as a viable profession rather than strictly an extracurricular activity. Hassan noted that many students pursue medicine or engineering due to parental pressure despite having a clear aptitude for acting. "We must make theatre their actual text and let them study what they love," he said, suggesting that prominent alumni like Sarmad Khoosat be invited to join the future faculty.

Praising the technical execution and fight choreography of Rustom-o-Sohrab, Hassan commended the GCU leadership for facilitating student talent.