Children, considered the future of a nation, seem to have bleak opportunities in all segments, be it education -- divided into private and government schools, health -- not many healthcare facilities for children specifically, sports -- dearth of playgrounds, and lastly, arts and culture.

If one looks at the present schedules of different cultural institutions, one would barely find entertainment opportunities for children. Art councils are 90pc into activities for men and women. There haven’t been any programmes designed by these councils focusing on children. Similarly, there is a great dearth of children’s theatre, as no theatre caters to their issues and problems in the city. Overall, the picture for children’s shows, programmes, theatre or musical evenings is not rosy.

Only Rafi Peer Theatre holds a free puppet show at Peeru’s Café for children daily. Little Art, an NGO, organises children’s film festivals, Alhamra stages puppet shows for children on Sundays and that’s all.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Broadcasting should direct all government-run cultural bodies to design and tailor programmes for children featuring all genres of performing arts, said artist Masood Akhtar. No fresh poetry was being written for children such as poems of the past, including Sufi Tabassum’s ‘Toat Batot’, said another artist, Khawaja Nazar.

Known for its traditional desi food, Gujranwala is on its way to coming on a par with bigger cities. Cinepax Cinemas has launched its seventh project, a three-screen multiplex.

A state-of-the-art cinema has been constructed in the heart of Gujranwala at King’s Mall, opposite Wapda Town.

The newly built Platinum Multiplex will be the hub of family entertainment with first class platinum seats, 7.1 Dolby surround sound with the best 3D experience. Cinepax Cinemas are going to build such cinemas across six cities.

Currently, four more multiplexes are under construction in Islamabad, Hyderabad, Sialkot and Multan.

On May 13, the Department of Film and TV of the National College of Arts (NCA) held an open discussion with Oscar and Emmy award-winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and members of ARY Films, titled ‘3 Bahadur: A Session with Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’.

Majid Saeed Khan, head of the Department of Film and TV, welcomed the guests on behalf of NCA Principal Prof Dr Murtaza Jafri. Sharmeen talked about her upcoming animated feature film 3 Bahadur, Pakistan’s first feature length animation being released on May 22.

Sharmeen talked to students and faculty about the difficulties she faced while making the film, the marketing strategies and about the future of animation in Pakistan; and her willingness to promote animation to feature length level after creating a fresh, maiden and ripe ground for budding animators and for the promotion of animation industry in Pakistan.

Behind-the-scenes footage, sneak previews, interview with the voiceover actors and the child stars were revealed to a large audience comprising students and the faculty of all departments of the college.

Performing art classes at Alhamra badly need structural improvement. Currently, ‘hobby classes’ -- the name given to them by the council for face-saving -- are on and students join and leave them whenever they want. There should be a syllabus and an educated faculty to teach students, so it can become what it was actually called, Alhamra Academy of Performing Arts.

Insiders at the council told Dawn that upgrading these classes and initiating studies under a proper system was on the cards and in the next few months they will start working on developing a syllabus and other such formalities to turn these classes into diplomas.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2015

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