LAHORE: Arrangements have been finalised for the Faiz International Festival that will start from Nov 19.

The festival has a lot to offer and contribute to the cultural scene of Lahore from performances by Bollywood artiste Naseeruddin Shah to vocals of Indian Sufi singer Sonam Kalra, Tahira Syed and Tina Sani.

The festival will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The festival will open with a play ‘Rozan-i-Zindan Se’, based on the letters of Faiz and Alys Faiz during his imprisonment, Naeem Tahir and Yasmin Tahir would read letters. The inaugural performance will also have a dance performance by contemporary dancers Wahab Shah and Sohaie Abroo.

On Nov 20, there will be a Mushaira under the title ‘Bayad-i-Nadeem and Faiz’ at Alhamra Hall-III. This poetry sitting will be televised by Pakistan Television. The same evening there will be a performance by Adeel Hashmi and Asad Anees at 6pm at Faletti’s under the title Tanha Pas-i-Zindan. Asad Anees will play on piano and Adeel Hashmi will recite the poetry.

At 9pm at Faletti’s, Tahira Syed will perform under the title Sham-i-Shehr-i-Baharan. She will pay a tribute to Malika Pukhraj and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

On Nov 21, from 6pm to 8pm there will be a theatrical performance titled ‘Einstein’ by Naseeruddin Shah. The same evening at Flaetti’s at 6pm, Ali Sethi will perform and sing all the classics by the likes of Farida Khanum and Noor Jahan.

Same evening at 9pm, Indian singer Sonam Kalra, considered a Sufi gospel queen, will perform at Faletti’s.

On Nov 22, at 6pm, Einstein by Naseeruddin Shah will be repeated at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, and Tina Sani will perform at Faletti’s at 9pm.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2015