Final step: ‘Student productions have improved under guidance’

BNU theatre and film students present theses

LAHORE: As many as 34 students on Thursday presented their thesis in the form of short films, short plays and documentaries to the jury of graduating class of Department of Theatre Film and TV at the School of Media and Mass Communication of Beaconhouse National University (BNU).

The jury comprised Ayub Khawar, director Ali Tahir, and former PTV producer Mehmood Ali, School of Media and Mass Communication Dean Taimurul Hassan and TFT Head of Department Urooj Samdani.

Samdani said students’ approach to production and scriptwriting had improved under the guidance of Ayub Khawar and Ali Tahir.

He said of the 33 theses, at least 12 could be sent to national and international film festivals.

“Quality of acting has also improved. These students had the opportunity to work with professional actors before they started their own projects,” he said.

Samdani said some of the graduating students had already secured work with various production houses.

Sachal Khurshid, daughter of former PTV producer Khurshid Azam, said her thesis Rangi-i-Muhabbat was the story of a girl (Sara) whose husband (Adil) had divorced her because he considered her too simple and average for his taste.

She said the plot explored Sara’s life as she tried to get over her former husband and learnt to become independent.

“One of her colleagues shows interest in Sara but she ignores him. Outside there is a florist who overhears one of their conversations and decides to unite them.”

“Sara decides to give Hassan a chance by inviting him to dinner. There she runs into Adil. She tells him to go away as she no longer needs him. This is when she realises that she is truly independent.” Shahroz Khan said his thesis Kahaani told the story of police arresting a man to interrogate him for his wife’s murder.

“They have to release him because of a broken justice system,” he said.

He said the story ended on a shocking note when he finds out that his wife and his mistress were actually the same person. Hamza Tariq’s thesis Dinner Table is the story of a well-mannered, soft-natured chef. “However, the plot thickens and the character turns into a murderer and a cannibal.”

“He targets the poor and the homeless and serves their meat to his guests at lavish parties. Later, he learns that one of his intended victims had pretended to have been lured by him to teach him a lesson.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10^th, 2016.