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STAR BUZZ: Disillusioned Nighat
Nighat Chaudhry has bid goodbye to the PNCA, Karachi. She had joined it in July as the director after being asked by the head office in Islamabad. Full of enthusiasm and ideas when she joined she found hurdles coming her way soon after. She says she was paid her salary after four months when she put her foot down, but continued to work in the interest of the arts even in the absence of an appointment letter and lack of facilities and internal politics. “I have been working like a mad person to achieve the best results possible, but this task has been impossible all alone,” she said.
Nighat is so disgusted with the internal politics that she has decided to go back to England this week. “There are many reasons for me to separate myself. I have worked without any official appointment but I will not accept being bullied or taken for granted. My reasons for being part of this organization were for the preservation and awareness of dance and art, with respect and dignity.”
So upset and hurt is this Kathak dancer that she says she will try to promote dance staying in another country. It’s a sad fact but then when have we ever allowed genuine people to work here.—K.H.
Fantasy or reality!
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Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellan are proud to have made the first of the movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. But the film has caused a bitter rift in the Tolkien clan. Christopher Tolkien, the author’s 73-year-old son and J.R.R. Tolkien Estate Ltd. board member, froze out his own son, Simon, after Simon supported director Peter Jackson’s Rings projects.“My father has refused to have anything to do with me or my son, who is 11, for three years, and he has rejected all requests to have a meeting,” Simon told London’s Independent. “His only mode of communication with me is by letter. ... When I call, he just puts the phone down.”—Rush and Molloy
Saud on the war front
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A few days ago, local film star Saud, on a special phone call from Lahore expressed his deep concern over the present Pak - India boundary tensensions. Although he is in complete favour of President Musharraf’s peace-keeping policies, Saud, however, announced that if India waged a war on Pakistan, Saud would be the first man to render his services as a soldier on the front line.“My every breath and soul is for the defence of my motherland. If India wages a war, I will be the first among the artists to march against the enemy.” We certainly know how patriotic these actors are on screen, but it’ll take a real war — God forbid — to know how much Saud means business. As to career front, he said “Though I am busy with films, I have some good offers from the mini screen. However, I am still thinking about working in the serials.—K.F.
Preparation for awards
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A ceremony to recognize the outstanding contributors of fashion and style, to be presented in February, is in full swing these days. Named the Lux Style Awards it has host Atiqa Odho and a mystery male counterpart, yet to be named, announcing the names of the best choreographer, actor, model, musician, writer, designer and photographer. The organizers have also come up with a ‘Humanitarian Award’ as well as a New Talent Award to be presented at the event.The viewers have been roped in to participate in choosing the outstanding names. They can vote through telephone, e-mail, website and voting forms published in the newspapers. As PTV has alloted the second day of Eid for this programme to be aired, the brand organizers are working feverishly to get everything ready in time. The judges names so far have been kept secret. One waits with bated breath for the results.—K.H.
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