LAHORE: Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture in an effort to promote all genres of art will hold a classical dance evening, an instrumental music evening, fine art shows and a brainstorming session to upgrade its museum being neglected for quite some time. Dawn
Officials told the institute was planning to hold a classical dance evening with some leading dancers in March to mark the onset of spring season.
An official said: “For many classical dance fanciers, holding a classical dance evening is something that must be appreciated because neither the Lahore Arts Council nor the Punjab Council of Arts organised an exclusive classical dance evening since long.”
He said the institute would also hold an instrumental music evening in which 'santoor' -- a dying instrument like sarangi -- would be played. “The idea behind holding instrumental music evenings is not only to rediscover those instrumentalists who have been forgotten with the passage of time but also to give them recognition by holding their concerts.”
He said the museum at PILAC needed to be upgraded for quite some time. “PILAC Director-General Dr Arshad Mehmood will hold a meeting in the coming week, a brainstorming session, for the purpose. The meeting is expected to be attended by historian and painter Dr Ijaz Anwar, Faqir Saffiuddin from Faqir Khana Museum, a former director of Lahore Museum, Mr Dar, and a few other personalities.”
The official said the art gallery of the institute had recently been inaugurated. “This gallery will be a great place to display artworks by those young artists who find no place in the commercial galleries not only due to the percentage but also because these artists do not have established their names in the market.”
He told this reporter that PILAC was also trying to discover those artists who had a great contribution, for example, most recently the institute had rediscovered a singer of 70's -- Rehana Akhtar -- who started her career from Pakistan Television. “She is a student of 'patiyala gharana' and to her credit there are some very popular songs like 'Menu Wangan Charah Day Wangan' and 'Ki Haal Sunawan Dil da.'”
He said the institution had also recommended her name to the respective authorities for Pride of Performance. Similarly PILAC had also rediscovered musician Ustad Tassaduq Ali Khan, brother of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, who composed film and non-film songs for 40 years. To Mr Khan's credit there are some very enriching music compositions such as 'Goriye Mein Jana Perdais', 'Kiun door door Rehnday ho Hazoor meray kolon' and 'Tangan Walay Nain'.
“The institute is going to hold two separate evenings with these two singers. The name of Ustad Tassaduq Khan has also been recommended for Pride of Performance by the institute,” he said.