Everyday Story Of Afghan Folk - Series 1, An [An Everyday Story Of Afghan Folk]

Episode

First
Broadcast

Comments

20120618

A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders where the only law is tribal law and there is no road, no electricity and no mobile phone signal. An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk is based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people of this untamed area.

In episode 1 we meet the wealthy, landowning family of Akbar Khan. A criminal and warlord, Akbar Khan welcomes his son's friend to his household. His good wife, Shah Bibi, fears that the lad is on the run and has asked for refuge. She hopes the visitor will keep his hands clean while he is staying but Akbar Khan is pleased to find someone who will help his criminal activities. Akbar Khan's elder son, Wisal, shares his mother's opinion of the guest. But he has other things on his mind - like the pretty young girl from the poorest family in the village who works in their household.

Cast:

Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner...... Sagar Arya

Shah Bibi, his wife ........ Shaheen Khan

Sudha Bhucher - Durranai, his mother

Wisal, his elder son ....... Donald Slack

Mashal, his younger son ....... Muzz Khan

Kashmala, his widowed daughter-in-law ....... Betsabeh Emran

Lashkar, Mashal's friend the outlaw ......... Narinder Samra

Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt

Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey

Sound design by David Chilton

Music by Olivia Thomas

Producer: Anne-Marie Cole

An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4.

Wealthy landowner and warlord Akbar Khan welcomes his son's friend to his household.

By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.

20120619

In episode 2 we meet the poorest family in the village. Mewa Gul scrapes a living by farming the fields of the wealthy Akbar Khan - but he is always in debt to his landlord. When Mewa Gul and his son Taza Gul witness a murder, they know they risk losing everything if they reveal what they saw.

Mewa Gul's daughter has problems of her own. She works for Akbar Khan's family and is falling for his son, Wisal. And if she's old enough to fall in love, then she's too old to be working in someone else's house. Her mother Bakhtawara tries to take the situation in hand.

Cast:

Sagar Arya - Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner

Muzz Khan - Mashal, his younger son

Lashkar, Mashal's friend the outlaw ......... Narinder Samra

Mewa Gul, the poorest farmer ....... Vincent Ibrahim

Bakhtawara, his wife ........ Meera Syal

Zarlakhta, his daughter ........ Balvinder Sopal

Taza Gul, his son ....... Sagar Arya

Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt

Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey

Sound design by David Chilton

Music by Olivia Thomas

Produced by Anne-Marie Cole

An Above theTitle production for BBC Radio 4.

By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.

20120620

In episode 3 we share the tribulations of Sardar Aka, village shopkeeper, who after many years of marriage to Gulnara has taken a second wife, the young Sakina. It is clear to both women that Sakina is his preferred wife and Gulnara's resulting jealousy can make home unbearable. When a gold bangle goes missing, relations reach breaking point. But Sardar Aka is busy outside the home too - as a member of the jirga, the village justice committee, he is determined to find out who is responsible for last night's murder.

Cast:

Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner - Sagar Arya

Shah Bibi, his wife ....... Shaheen Khan

Wisal, his elder son ....... Donald Slack

Sardar Aka, the shopkeeper ....... Madhav Sharma

Gulnara, his first wife ....... Pooja Ghai

Sakina, his young second wife ........ Rakhee Thakra

Kashmala, his daughter, and the widow of Siyal Khan ....... Betsabeh Emran

Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt

Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey

Sound design by David Chilton

Music by Olivia Thomas

Produced by Anne-Marie Cole

An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4.

After years of marriage to Gulnara, village shopkeeper Sardar Aka has taken a second wife.

By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.

20120621

In episode 4 we agonise with the village's poorest farmer, Mewa Gul, and his son, Taza Gul, over what to do with their knowledge of the recent murder. There's only one place for a good Muslim to take his problems, and that's the mosque.

Sardar Aka, the village shopkeeper, has his share of trouble too. The quarrel between his two wives reaches hideous proportions when the three of them decide to search for a missing bangle.

Cast:

Mewa Gul, the poorest farmer - Vincent Ibrahim

Bakhtawara, his wife ....... Meera Syal

Zarlakhta, his daughter - Balvinder Sopal

Taza Gul, his son - Sagar Arya

Mullah Sahib - John Butt

Sardar Aka, the shopkeeper - Madhav Sharma

Gulnara, his first wife - Pooja Ghai

Zakina, his young second wife ....... Rakhee Thakra

Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt

Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey

Sound design by David Chilton

Music by Olivia Thomas

Produced by Anne-Marie Cole

An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4.

Mewa Gul and Taza Gul agonise over what to do with their knowledge of the recent murder.

By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.

20120622

A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders, based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people.

In the final episode Akbar Khan lends money to his son to bet on their own dog Lucifer in a dogfight. Akbar Khan's other son, Wisal, is disappointed to learn that young Zarlakhta is being withdrawn from the household because she is too mature to work where there are young men.

Finally, there is a knock at the door. The jirga is here in pursuit of justice. They have questions for Akbar Khan about the recent murder in the village.

English listeners must leave An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk on this cliffhanger. But the programme is ongoing in Pashtun.

Cast:

Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner ....... Sagar Arya

Shah Bibi, his wife - Shaheen Khan

Durranai, his mother - Sudha Bhucher

Wisal, his elder son ....... Donald Slack

Mashal, his younger son ....... Muzz Khan

Kashmala, his widowed daughter-in-law ....... Betsabeh Emran

Lashkar, Mashal's friend, the outlaw ........ Narinder Samra

Mewa Gul, the poorest farmer - Vincent Ibrahim

Bakhtawara, his wife ....... Meera Syal

Zarlakhta, his daughter - Balvinder Sopal

Taza Gul, his son - Sagar Arya

Sardar Aka, the shopkeeper - Madhav Sharma

Gulnara, his first wife ....... Pooja Ghai

Sakina, his young second wife - Rakhee Thakra

Mullah Sahib - John Butt

Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt

Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey

Sound design by David Chilton

Music by Olivia Thomas

Producer: Anne-Marie Cole

An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4.

By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.

Episodes

Episode	First Broadcast	Comments
01	20120618	A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders where the only law is tribal law and there is no road, no electricity and no mobile phone signal. An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk is based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people of this untamed area. In episode 1 we meet the wealthy, landowning family of Akbar Khan. A criminal and warlord, Akbar Khan welcomes his son's friend to his household. His good wife, Shah Bibi, fears that the lad is on the run and has asked for refuge. She hopes the visitor will keep his hands clean while he is staying but Akbar Khan is pleased to find someone who will help his criminal activities. Akbar Khan's elder son, Wisal, shares his mother's opinion of the guest. But he has other things on his mind - like the pretty young girl from the poorest family in the village who works in their household. Cast: Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner...... Sagar Arya Shah Bibi, his wife ........ Shaheen Khan Sudha Bhucher - Durranai, his mother Wisal, his elder son ....... Donald Slack Mashal, his younger son ....... Muzz Khan Kashmala, his widowed daughter-in-law ....... Betsabeh Emran Lashkar, Mashal's friend the outlaw ......... Narinder Samra Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey Sound design by David Chilton Music by Olivia Thomas Producer: Anne-Marie Cole An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4. Wealthy landowner and warlord Akbar Khan welcomes his son's friend to his household. By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.
02	20120619	A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders where the only law is tribal law and there is no road, no electricity and no mobile phone signal. An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk is based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people of this untamed area. In episode 2 we meet the poorest family in the village. Mewa Gul scrapes a living by farming the fields of the wealthy Akbar Khan - but he is always in debt to his landlord. When Mewa Gul and his son Taza Gul witness a murder, they know they risk losing everything if they reveal what they saw. Mewa Gul's daughter has problems of her own. She works for Akbar Khan's family and is falling for his son, Wisal. And if she's old enough to fall in love, then she's too old to be working in someone else's house. Her mother Bakhtawara tries to take the situation in hand. Cast: Sagar Arya - Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner Muzz Khan - Mashal, his younger son Lashkar, Mashal's friend the outlaw ......... Narinder Samra Mewa Gul, the poorest farmer ....... Vincent Ibrahim Bakhtawara, his wife ........ Meera Syal Zarlakhta, his daughter ........ Balvinder Sopal Taza Gul, his son ....... Sagar Arya Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey Sound design by David Chilton Music by Olivia Thomas Produced by Anne-Marie Cole An Above theTitle production for BBC Radio 4. By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.
03	20120620	A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders where the only law is tribal law and there is no road, no electricity and no mobile phone signal. An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk is based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people of this untamed area. In episode 3 we share the tribulations of Sardar Aka, village shopkeeper, who after many years of marriage to Gulnara has taken a second wife, the young Sakina. It is clear to both women that Sakina is his preferred wife and Gulnara's resulting jealousy can make home unbearable. When a gold bangle goes missing, relations reach breaking point. But Sardar Aka is busy outside the home too - as a member of the jirga, the village justice committee, he is determined to find out who is responsible for last night's murder. Cast: Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner - Sagar Arya Shah Bibi, his wife ....... Shaheen Khan Wisal, his elder son ....... Donald Slack Sardar Aka, the shopkeeper ....... Madhav Sharma Gulnara, his first wife ....... Pooja Ghai Sakina, his young second wife ........ Rakhee Thakra Kashmala, his daughter, and the widow of Siyal Khan ....... Betsabeh Emran Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey Sound design by David Chilton Music by Olivia Thomas Produced by Anne-Marie Cole An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4. After years of marriage to Gulnara, village shopkeeper Sardar Aka has taken a second wife. By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.
04	20120621	A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders where the only law is tribal law and there is no road, no electricity and no mobile phone signal. An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk is based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people of this untamed area. In episode 4 we agonise with the village's poorest farmer, Mewa Gul, and his son, Taza Gul, over what to do with their knowledge of the recent murder. There's only one place for a good Muslim to take his problems, and that's the mosque. Sardar Aka, the village shopkeeper, has his share of trouble too. The quarrel between his two wives reaches hideous proportions when the three of them decide to search for a missing bangle. Cast: Mewa Gul, the poorest farmer - Vincent Ibrahim Bakhtawara, his wife ....... Meera Syal Zarlakhta, his daughter - Balvinder Sopal Taza Gul, his son - Sagar Arya Mullah Sahib - John Butt Sardar Aka, the shopkeeper - Madhav Sharma Gulnara, his first wife - Pooja Ghai Zakina, his young second wife ....... Rakhee Thakra Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey Sound design by David Chilton Music by Olivia Thomas Produced by Anne-Marie Cole An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4. Mewa Gul and Taza Gul agonise over what to do with their knowledge of the recent murder. By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.
05	20120622	A slice of daily life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders, based on PACT Radio's existing daily soap, made by and for the Pashtun people. In the final episode Akbar Khan lends money to his son to bet on their own dog Lucifer in a dogfight. Akbar Khan's other son, Wisal, is disappointed to learn that young Zarlakhta is being withdrawn from the household because she is too mature to work where there are young men. Finally, there is a knock at the door. The jirga is here in pursuit of justice. They have questions for Akbar Khan about the recent murder in the village. English listeners must leave An Everyday Story of Afghan Folk on this cliffhanger. But the programme is ongoing in Pashtun. Cast: Akbar Khan, the wealthy landowner ....... Sagar Arya Shah Bibi, his wife - Shaheen Khan Durranai, his mother - Sudha Bhucher Wisal, his elder son ....... Donald Slack Mashal, his younger son ....... Muzz Khan Kashmala, his widowed daughter-in-law ....... Betsabeh Emran Lashkar, Mashal's friend, the outlaw ........ Narinder Samra Mewa Gul, the poorest farmer - Vincent Ibrahim Bakhtawara, his wife ....... Meera Syal Zarlakhta, his daughter - Balvinder Sopal Taza Gul, his son - Sagar Arya Sardar Aka, the shopkeeper - Madhav Sharma Gulnara, his first wife ....... Pooja Ghai Sakina, his young second wife - Rakhee Thakra Mullah Sahib - John Butt Based on a PACT Radio production led by John Butt Written and directed in the UK by Liz Rigbey Sound design by David Chilton Music by Olivia Thomas Producer: Anne-Marie Cole An Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4. By Liz Rigbey. A slice of life in a village in the wild, mountainous Pak-Afghan borders.