Sufi Aman Mela at Ali Institute of Education’s auditorium on Saturday last under the aegis of the Pakistan National Council of Arts was a fine event.
Vocalists of different age groups enthralled the audience that night. Classical singers Badar-uz-Zaman and Qamar-uz-Zaman, folk singer Shaukat Ali and Melody Queen Noor Jahan’s protégé Azra Jahan performed on the occasion. There was also representation of young voices like Saira Tahir, a student of music from Punjab University’s Musicology Department; upcoming talent Nadeem Abbas and Rafaqat Ali Khan.
The one-day Sufi Peace Festival was aimed at projecting Pakistan’s soft image. Shakir Ali Museum director Amna Pataudi said saints professed peace and love and preached harmony throughout their lives. She said Muslims were not all about terrorism for terrorism had nothing to do with Islam.
Since the event was organised by Shakir Ali Museum, a subsidiary of Islamabad-based PNCA in Lahore, artistes from the National Performing Arts Group also performed dances to the tunes of Sufi music. Choreographer Roshan Ara Bokhari made a rich contribution to these dances.
The artistes performed to the tunes of Sufi Kalam such as Aaj Rang Hai, Meray Muala and Wohi Khuda Hai. The final touch of the evening was dhamal, which left audience in a spiritual whirl.
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A multimedia exhibition titled ‘This is My Story’ based on the works of 16 artists will open at Zahoor-ul-Akhlaq Gallery of National College of Arts on Oct 11. ‘This is My Story’ is a multimedia exhibition, which will feature works about the impact of violence in Pakistan. In addition, the exhibition will showcase oral histories, photographs and installations that explore memories and legacies of the past and present conflicts in Pakistan.
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The Lahore Arts Council will hold a nine-day theatre festival from Oct 14-22 and preparations are under way in this regard. Nine theatre groups from Lahore and other parts of Punjab are participating in the festival, which will be held at Alhamra Art Centre on The Mall. Ajoka is the leading participant and other theatre groups are from the University of Punjab, Faisalabad Agriculture University, Sufi Tabassum Academy and some made by youngsters. Performances will take place daily from 7pm to 9:30pm.
The council is also organising one-day Faiz Aman Conference on Oct 16. The conference will be presided over by Abid Hassan Manto and addressed by Salima Hashmi, Intizar Hussain, Dr Saleem Akhtar, Dr Khurshid Rizvi and other literary stalwarts. The conference will have a musical evening in which singers will sing Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry.
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A group exhibition of calligraphy featuring seven artists will open at the Revivers Galleria in Gulberg on Oct 12. Titled “The Art of Calligraphy”, the exhibition will continue till Oct 25. On display at the exhibition will be selected works of Amjad Butt, Bin Qallander, Chitra Pritam, Mashkoor Raza, Mussarat Arif, Riaz Rafi and Tariq Javaid.
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US Ambassador Cameron Munter inaugurated the newly set up sound studio for Rafi Peer/USAID’s project PCTV’s ‘Sim Sim Hamara’ on last Wednesday. He was impressed by the special ‘Sim Sim Hamara’ performance at the Rafi Peer Cultural Complex. The American ambassador was accompanied by his wife and US Consul General in Lahore Nina Maria Fite.
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The three-day festival (Oct 7-9) of Indian director Muzaffar Ali’s films opened at Human Rights Commission of Pakistan on Friday.
The festival is part of Faiz’s centennial celebrations and Ali has been invited by the Faiz Foundation to show three of his most famous films. Ali, a filmmaker, poet, artist and social worker, has dedicated most of his films to Faiz.
