The chief minister will formally inaugurate the three-day event on November 20. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE: The Faiz International Festival will kick off on November 19, Faiz Foundation Trust chairperson Salima Hashmi announced on Thursday.
The festival will begin with Rozane Zindan Se, a performance by Ajoka, based on the letters written by Faiz and Alys during his imprisonment. The chief minister will formally inaugurate the three-day event on November 20.
Around 30 sessions on politics and literature, involving literary figures from Pakistan and India, will take place at Alhamra on The Mall.
The Indian delegation includes filmmaker and poet Muzaffar Ali, film writer and actor Atul Tiwari and TV anchor Vinod Kumar Dua. Several writers from across the border will also attend the festival, including Annie Zaidi, Dr Rakhsanda Jalil and Dipa Singh Bagai.
Writers Intezar Hussain and Mohsin Hamid and actors Zia Mohyeddin and Sarmad Khoosat will be participating in a panel discussion.
Most of the performances will be open to public. These include Chog Kusumba, a play directed by Huma Safdar, and a dance performance by Lahore Grammar School students, choreographed by Adnan Jehangir.
Ticketed performances include one by Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah and a musical evening at Faletti’s Hotel featuring Tina Sani, Tahira Syed and Ali Sethi.
“Whenever we get together to do something in Faiz’s name, a lot of people come forward and help us,” Salima Hashmi said.
Actor Adeel Hashmi said through the festival the organisation tried to introduce people who thought differently. He said the media would not be allowed to cover some of the performances.
“This is because some of the performers have told us that they do not want such publicity,” said Moneeza Hashmi.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2015.
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