Lightening up the mood: ‘Lyari Notes’ screened at film festival in New Delhi

Maheen Zia’s latest documentary manages to cross the border in fine style

KARACHI: In the midst of all the tensions and banning of artists, messengers of peace have been actively playing their role on both sides of the border.  While Pakistani exhibitors have boycotted Bollywood films, Indian exhibitors have put a ban on films featuring Pakistani artists.

Despite this, Pakistani documentary film-maker Maheen Zia’s Lyari Notes has managed to make inroads across the border. It was screened as the concluding film at Peace Builders International Film Festival in Delhi on October 13. Co-directed by Miriam Chandy Menacherry from India, the film revolves around a musician teaching young girls from Lyari how to express themselves through music.

The film festival was organised by Ekta Foundation Trust, International Gandhian Initiative for Non-violence and Peace and Enable India Foundation to propagate the message of non-violence. “The idea behind showcasing Lyari Notes as the concluding film is to tell people that both countries can go hand in hand and work together. In the documentary, four girls from Karachi learn music, so it also highlights a positive image of the country and a change in perception,” festival director Anupama Srinivasan said in an interview with Hindustan Times.



Talking to The Express Tribune, Zia said, “It was really bold of the film festival to screen the film amid this tense situation. I’m really glad that they invited the film as it propagates the message of peace.”

Commenting on the on-going tussle between India and Pakistan, Zia revealed it is important to keep the road open and stay in talks. “We should continue to talk to each other and not burn the bridge. The artist community should not be affected by political failures of the governments.” She called the move of boycotting Indian films in Pakistan and Pakistani artists in India as short-sighted. “It’s just adding fuel to the fire. Artists need to continue to work together and not be influenced by such situations,” mentioned Zia. The film is currently touring festivals across Mumbai, Chicago and England as well.

Meanwhile, Zia is also working on her next documentary called Mela Chaar Dinan Da (Then They Would Be Gone), for which she has received €5,000 funding from the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA). Her project was one of the 11 selected, out of 250 submitted from over 60 countries. The documentary, which is about small town fairs, is being co-directed by Madiha Ejaz.

Earlier this year, some local documentaries such as Besieged in Quetta — which was about Pakistani Hazaras — and Among the Believers – which revolved around the radical Islamic schooling of children – were banned. Whether she thinks her documentary will also get into trouble with the censor boards, Zia added, “No, I don’t think my documentary would has any controversial ideas in it. So I’m hoping it doesn’t get in trouble.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2016.

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