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LAHORE: It was another glittering evening at Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qadhafi Stadium, on Friday where musical and theatrical performances kept many glued to their seats till the end.
The 13th Youth Performing Arts Festival, the pulse of Lahore’s vibrating annual cultural calendar, attracted youths in large numbers.
Giggling and laughing students from different educational institutes started thronging the venue at 4pm. Friday witnessed a huge crowd at the festival that was hosting the ‘Music Night’ at the Open Air Theatre. Disco lights, smoke, whistles, dance and generous claps for performers were the order of the night.
Youths were appreciating the youth performing on the stage. Among some fantastic musical performances on Friday was ‘Nadiya Par Par Ker Kay’, a duet by Moeed Ali and Minaiel Ali from Unique Group of Institutes that received a huge applause. Moeed also spellbound the audience by performing the famous ‘Sahil Pay Kharay Ho Tum’.
Safeer Jaffary performed covers of popular songs of Ali Zafar. A young singer paid tribute to Shafqat Amanat Ali by singing his famous ‘Mora Saiyan Mosay Bolay Na’. Some folk and English songs made the ‘Music Night’ a full package with different flavours.
The festival could not end without a political element to it, as ‘Go Nawaz Go’ slogans were shouted by a group of youngsters at the venue. However, the situation was soon taken under control and music again engaged the charged-up audience.
Some instrumentalists also entertained the audience by playing the flute and guitar. Classical singer Rafaqat Ali Khan’s son Bakht Ali received a standing ovation for his rendition of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s ‘Allah Hu’.
Among other performances were Punjab University’s play Dugdugi about a society where people looked for a reason to justify their unjustified deeds. Short films were also screened and a few other theatrical performances by educational institutes were also a part of the festival. University of Central Punjab and NCA performed a mime.
Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2014
