Benazir Bhutto’s assassination opening the sluice gate of political drama and turmoil, his focus has shifted.

“I had shared prison with (Zulfikar Ali) Bhutto. My play was supposed to focus on some unknown facts about his last days. But after Benazir death, I think she will become the central character of the play on this political family,” says the playwright-director, who was in Mumbai with Burqavaganza. The play, banned in Pakistan, was staged in the city as part of the National School of Drama’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav.

The political tone of the play on the Bhuttos might land the founder of Ajoka Theatre, set up by a group of cultural activists in 1983 during General Zia-ul-Haq’s politically and culturally repressive regime, in trouble. “By now, we are used to troubles.”

Burqavaganza, with an irreverent tone and a cast covered in burqa, highlights the rigidity of customs, dress code and ridicules the system that upholds their sanctity. As the play follows the story of young lovers—their romance, wedding and the birth of their child—it mocks at the invasion of Talibanism, raises the issue of girl child, and terrorism. The sub-plot has the police, looking for the terrorist leader Burqa Bin Batin (clearly a spoof on Osama Bin Laden).

Was Nadeem not scared of the terrorist leader’s wrath? “Hopefully, he (Laden) has more pressing matters in mind,” he laughs. The action on the stage is accompanied by the screening of Burqa Vision, which include a TV soap, documentary Burqa Though the Ages, news, a fashion show — throughout ridiculing the attire, which is probably the most prominent symbol of Islam. Adding to the fun are two maulanas posing as the counselors of a phone-in TV show. Most of their statements are burrowed from Beheshti Zaiver (Jewels of Paradise), a book given to girls at the time of marriage.

After a ban on the play, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has lent Ajoka Theatre their space. “We enjoyed much more freedom during civilian rules, even during Pervez Musharraf’s rule till the Islamic fundamentalist leaders put pressure on him. Hopefully, after the elections next month the situation will improve,” the director says.

Flirting with daring topics had Nadeem in exile for nearly eight years in the late ’80s. In his absence, his wife Madeeha Gauhar carried on with his work. “I used to send her scripts from London which she would stage,” Nadeem says.