A showbiz academy in the offing

KARACHI: Noted actor Talaat Hussain was the guest of the Press Forum at the Arts Council on Tuesday. Hasan Zaheer briefly spoke about the guest and later asked him to speak about himself and face the questions coming from the audience - journalists and the non-journalists.

Initially, Talaat Hussain was interested in painting. As a child in class VIIIth, he participated in a painting competition, and his work was adjudged as the best. A day later, the decision was overturned, which was so shocking that young Talaat left painting for good.

He started his career in broadcasting and also engaged himself in writing. As his creativity flowered in both the genres, the young boy declared his decision to become an actor, a decision which 'shocked' his parents because the acting profession till those times was tainted with all deadly sins.

But Talaat, during his quite a long association with electronic media and also a brief period spent with the cine, proved his worth as a real talented person and a gentleman. His interest in literature, poetry and different art forms earned respect for him from others in the showbiz.

Talaat Hussain, who had earned a sanad (certificate) and also a gold medal from London after completion of a two-year course in the learning of theatre and performing arts, informed the listeners that such an academy would be opened at the Arts Council next year.

To a questioner if he (TH) had any objection in the screening of Indian films in our cinema halls, he said, he had no objection but Pakistani films should also be screened over there.

By imposing a ban on Indian films, our film-makers became complacent because now they had monopoly over the market and the spirit to compete had vanished. It brought immense loss to the film industry.

Since no improvement in the studios was introduced, the photography, editing, etc., all suffered. The business, with the passage of time, dwindled and cinema halls closed down, replacing multi-storey shopping plazas. The cinema culture, at last, was dead and buried.

Talaat stressed on the point that monopoly should be broken for a free and flourishing cinema culture. Film, considered as the best art form of the 20th century the world over, was sadly ignored in our country, he said.

For one inclined to work in theatre mental, alertness and physical fitness were two essential qualities without which one cannot use the body language. For every intellectual activity to be successfully pursued, you need a tolerant, enlightened and sensible society.

Sadly, these qualities are missing in us. Aggressive, intolerant, prideful in breaking the law, and arrogant in behaviour, we must first work to bring a change in the society.

"What is art?" and "what is action?" are some questions put to Talaat Hussain and he provided their brief answers while keeping his cool. In reply to a question that why was he so 'ego-conscious' as not to visit rich persons for donations to the benefit of the Art Council, he resentfully replied: "I will never do that."

The self-respect and dignity of an artiste was very dear to him. In pain and suffering, they must be provided with monetary assistance but they should not be made an object of mercy and compassion, he said.