LAHORE: The concluding day of Faiz International Festival attracted rather large audiences due to Sunday at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall.

Two major attractions of the festival besides other sessions were an informal chit-chat by Sarmad Khoosat and Mira Hashmi with film and TV heartthrob Mahira Khan and the second one was a musical show of child folk singers from the platform of the Lok Virsa that had selected them from all over the country.

The Hall 2 was jam-packed where Mahira Khan was in conversation with her two hosts. There wasn’t any space left even at the stairs.

Giving her own reaction to stardom and fame, Mahira said the world looked better when one was given such a recognition and honour; however, she didn’t know how to handle it or react to it because she was primarily a full-time mother and part-time actress.

Giving her views on joining the glamour world after marriage, Ms Khan said she did not buy Bollywood concepts that a heroine should be single. “I don’t find these things affecting one’s career.”

Asked why she was into exclusive projects only, she reasoned that she had a family and a kid back home that’s why she had little time to choose multiple projects at a time.

Mentioning her all-time popular TV serial Humsafar, the actress said: “The project blessed the entire team and the drama serial would always remain special for her.”

To a query about how she dreamt of becoming rich and an actress of profound impact, Mahira Khan said when she used to do different jobs in the US, she often prayed to God to fulfill her dreams of a bright future.

About her inspirations in acting, she said she wanted to perform the role Guru Dutt had in the Bollywood classic, Pyaasa. She also expressed her wish to do comedy roles despite her fears of bad performance in such roles. She said Madhuri Dixit was her all-time favourite actress.

Giving her opinion on repetition of subjects in TV plays, Mahira regretted that “we are a formula industry. Unfortunately, we replicate the formula”. If a serial becomes popular, many other serials are made on the same pattern and subject, she lamented.

She shared with the audience that how excited she was when she got an offer from India to perform opposite Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan and that it was a dream come true.

The Lok Virsa show at the Faiz festival was amazing with the children from all provinces of the country singing folk songs in their regional languages. It was a bouquet of diverse music and languages.

Dr Fouzia Saeed, executive director of the Lok Virsa, told this reporter that she had put in a great effort to select 15 groups of children from all over the country for folk singing.

“I have plans to hold these shows all over Pakistan,” she said.

Regretting that there was a dearth of girls when it came to folk singing, she said: “I am trying my level best to convince the families to send their girls for folk singing but they have their own limitations and issues.”

Ms Saeed said that participating in the Faiz festival was a great honour as Faiz had founded Lok Virsa and many other cultural institutions.

The first performance of the show was by a child folk singer Zamin from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who sang well. A third grade student, Zamin learnt singing from his father, Tahir. The second performance by Zeeshan and Sumera (siblings) from Sindh made many in the hall dance to their tunes. They stole the show with their Sindhi and Marwari songs.

Next came Muskan, a fifth grader from Hafizabad, Punjab, who was also full of energy. While playing Chimta, she sang traditional Mirza Jutt and Miti Deya Baweya, originally sang by the legendary Alam Lohar.

From Balochistan, Mir Muhammad Asif’s melodious voice made many tap their shoes on the floor. He was accompanied by his uncles who played instruments along him.

The last and concluding set of singers, Subhan, Ashar and Muzamil from Rawalpindi, were the third generation of great Punjabi singer of the yore, Tufail Niazi. They also made the audience dance and enjoy their singing as they sang Laie Bayqadran Naal Yari Tay Tut Gaie Tarrak Kar Kay.

The last major attraction of the festival which was to take place when this report was filed was iconic Sufi singer Abida Parveen’s musical evening but it was a ticketed event.

Published in Dawn November 21st, 2016