LAHORE: The second day of the Pakistan Literature Festival (PLF) on Saturday again roped in hundreds of literature and art lovers at the Alhamra Art Centre.

One of the sessions, titled TV Pakistani Samaaj Ka Tarjumaan, featured veteran actor Munawar Saeed, playwrights Noorul Huda Shah, Asghar Nadeem Syed, Bee Gul and Amna Mufti, director Kashif Nisar and actress Sanam Saeed. The session was moderated by Yasir Hussain.

Commenting on the current state of television and plays, Munawar Saeed said with the passage of time a necessary change had occurred but there was room for improvement. He said even during the PTV days, 50pc work was not up to the mark. One would find quality productions less than ordinary ones whether in the era of the PTV productions or the present day, he added.

Asghar Nadeem Syed pointed out that Pakistani society was confronted with multiple issues and they were not being shown through the current TV plays which had monotony. He lamented that the TV plays did not reflect the society.

Sanam Saeed was of the view that there were weaknesses in the content given to an artiste to perform. She argued that in such sessions, the heads of the TV channels should also be invited.

Noorul Huda Shah said, “It was a tragedy that television has become the buyer of the society and it wants to impose on people what it benefits commercially”.

Sohail Ahmed said television plays needed a break from commercialism as quality productions were the need of the hour. He suggested segregating the information department from culture.

Amna Mufti said there was resistance when it came to writing plays despite democracy.

Bee Gul said the whole responsibility could not be placed on the artistes and script mattered too.

AHMAD BASHIR’S FAMILY: ‘Ahmed Bashir Ka Kumba’ was another interesting session on the family of the late Ahmad Bashir, moderated by his daughter Bushra Ansari. The session also featured Neelum Ahmad Bashir, Asma Abbas, Zara Noor Abbas and Ahmed Abbas. They shared with the audience their childhood memories and how their father, Ahmad Bashir, gave them a good brought up. Ms Ansari and Asma Abbas also performed Guwandanay, a Punjabi poem on peace written by Neelum.

Bushra Ansari’s eyes were brimmed with tears when she remembered her sister Sumbal, who passed away. She said many literary figures were regular visitors to their ancestral home, which include Munnu Bhai, Anwar Sajjad, Waris Mir and many others. She said poet Nasir Kazmi’s house was situated at the back of their residence.

SHAAN: Film star Shaan Shahid was in conversation with Bee Gul in another session. Talking about film and its decline in Pakistan, Shaan said the film industry in this country had always been treated as an orphan child. He said he was trying to follow the legacy of his father who made many patriotic movies such as Ye Aman, Zarqa and others. Shaan highlighted the lack of freedom of expression in the current scenario.

To a question, he said women should be given their due rights. He urged the literary folks to start writing films as literature could provide new ideas and quality content. He urged Anwar Maqsood to write films as well.

Shaan said unity was needed among the artistes so that they could launch their own television channel to get rid of commercialism marring the TV productions.

He felt sorry that the youth seemed more interested in slogans such as Akhtar Lawa Lahore Da Pawa than Ghalib’s poetry.

To another question, Shaan said those striving for screening of Indian films in Pakistan should also stress that Pakistani films should also be screened in India.

The music night at the festival featured a Ukrainian singer Kamalia and Pakistani singing sensation Ali Zafar.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2023