DIRECTOR-cum-producer-cum-actor Samina Peerzada claims she is “surrounded by cinema” as she watches a lot of films. Yet, while most people would rattle off the names of western or Indian films when asked to pick their favourite movies, Samina Peerzada, somewhat surprisingly, selects a Pakistani film as her first choice. What is perhaps even more surprising is that her selection is a far cry from the modern productions of today, boasting slick cinematography, expert choreography and glamorous costumes. Her hot favourite to date remains the black-and-white classic Lakhon Mein Aik.
Samina says the next film to leave a lasting impression on her mind was Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam, followed closely by Citizen Cane. What fascinates her most about the latter is its camera work.
Says Samina, “I love the way the camera is used in the film — for instance, the way the protagonist’s childhood is depicted in the background, while he is shown standing in the foreground. It’s like picturizing the impossible. I admire cameramen and directors who are creative enough to project the unusual. I have a critic’s eye and see movies in minute detail, and feel very frustrated when I want to direct films in our country with the same precision, but can’t.”
Among her favourite western flicks are also The English Patient and Dangerous Liaison. Says Samina, “I like films that depict human conflict, where the characters are torn apart because of the decisions they make and the road they choose in life. There is a study of the human mind in all my favourite films — once the forte of Pakistani cinema, too, which we have, unfortunately, lost over time. Take any of the great old Pakistani movie — Ahsan, Arman, Saheli, Baji, Inteha and so on — they all revolved around the theme of conflict, decision-making and their consequences. In fact, my new film will also be around the same theme.”
Samina enjoys Iranian cinema as well, and claims to have seen “some amazing films at Iranian film festivals”. She elaborates, “I look for films with a soul, and am enamoured by the simplicity of modern cinema found in Iran, and, for that matter, in Japan and Europe.”
Just as fond of music, Samina claims she listens to it most of the time. Whether in the car or at home, music is her constant companion, but just as she has a penchant for vintage films, her preference in music is for evergreen numbers. She loves to listen to old songs rendered by the great doyens of Pakistan’s film and music industry.
Says Samina, “My favourite music is from the black-and-white era, whether Indian or Pakistani, and I particularly love the songs sung by Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jehan and Ahmed Rushdi. Similarly, I thoroughly enjoy Geeta Dutt, whose voice is amazing, and Rajkumari who sang for the film Mahel. I think the latter’s voice has an unusual haunting touch about it.”
Samina Peerzada is also fond of Nayyara Noor’s renditions, particularly her Chalu Us Koh Par penned by Zuhra Nigah, and Kabhi Hum Khoobsorat Thay. She also loves Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s Bol Kay Lab Azaad Hain Tairey sung by Tina Sani.
She enjoys sufi music as well and finds Pathaney Khan to be great. Equally into listening to classical music, Samina claims to enjoy those singers that are “not playing to the gallery, but to the ultimate Creator.” Her list of classical favourites includes the works of Baray Ghulam Ali Khan and Kishori, as well as Bismillah Khan’s shehnai.
Understandably, western singers that rank among Samina’s favourites are from the days of yore as well. She loves to listen to Joan Baez, the Carpenters, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond, John Denver, Simon and Garfunkle. From the more recent singers, Nora Jones has her seal of approval.
Not surprisingly, Samina Peerzada’s taste in books is remarkably similar to her choice in movies. She enjoys books that bring out “the conflict within” and her favourite is The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.
Says the director, “The book brings out the tussle between what you are and what you want to be and that is what I find so fascinating about it.” Her favourites also includes Francoise Sagan’s trilogy, which she read in her teens, and Virginia Wolfe’s Mrs Dalloway. In fact, she even enjoyed the film The Hours, which was based on the story.
Among her favourite books is also Udas Naslein by Abdullah Hussein, which, in the words of Samina, “revolves around how the changing times in the subcontinent affect the lives of its people.” Another local writer that she enjoys is Ghulam Abbas, whose short stories she ranks among her hot favourites. She also finds Qurat-ul-Ain Hyder’s Aag Ka Darya “amazing”.
While she finds The English Patient “interesting”, Samina Peerzada is especially fond of autobiographies, and recalls one in particular that she had read many years ago, which she had thoroughly enjoyed. “It is called Changing, written by renowned actor Liv Ullmann, and it is such an amazing book that I have read it again and again.” Another autobiography that Samina has enjoyed is that of Charlie Chaplin’s, simply called My Autobiography.
FAVOURITE MOVIE: Lakhon Mein Aik
FAVOURITE MUSIC: Vintage songs by Mehdi Hassan, Noor Jehan and Ahmed Rushdi
FAVOURITE BOOK: The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera
DIRECTOR-cum-producer-cum-actor Samina Peerzada claims she is “surrounded by cinema” as she watches a lot of films. Yet, while most people would rattle off the names of western or Indian films when asked to pick their favourite movies, Samina Peerzada, somewhat surprisingly, selects a Pakistani film as her first choice. What is perhaps even more surprising is that her selection is a far cry from the modern productions of today, boasting slick cinematography, expert choreography and glamorous costumes. Her hot favourite to date remains the black-and-white classic Lakhon Mein Aik.
