And the finalists are...

KARACHI: Entertainment channel Hum TV is organising the Hum Telefilm Festival for the second year in a row and has received up to 40 entries.

The channel has selected 10 finalists from the pool which will be shown to viewers.

The festival has attracted a large audience in Pakistan and the jury faces a difficult decision when deciding which films will become a part of the final selection. According to Mehreen Jabbar, one of the jury members, “Each entry is a solid film and though there are theme variations, the selected ones are amongst (the best).”

Some of the telefilms such as Aaj Kuch Na Kaho, Silvat and Zainabay explore different angles of love but the telefilms do not just revolve around the themes of love and relationships. One of the telefilms, Rang, focuses on the relationship between a father and his daughter, while Kaun Qamar Ara centres on the issues of undivided India and brings to life a tale of a husband and wife during this time. Daagh Hai Meray Naam Per revolves around the issue of karo-kari, whereas Yeh Jugnoo Hamaray shows terrorism in Lahore and Tehreem is the touching story of a sex worker who is expecting a child.

Jury member Khalid Ahmad said, “Though technically we cannot compete with the west, these telefilms are in no way less creative (as compared to Western films).” Hum TV President Sultana Siddiqui said, “We make sure that there is no commercial aspect to the telefilms and our aim is enrich the viewer with these films. This is the second year of the Hum Telefilm Festival and I would like suggest that those who really want to become a finalist should try and choose an innovative subject which has not yet been covered.”

Prominent actors who have directly participated in these telefilms are Shamoon Abbasi, Jehanzaib Gorchani, Anwer Iqbal, Shakeel, Faiza Hasan, Qaiser Khan Nizamani, Ali Afzal, Fiza Ali, Firdous Jamal and Noor.

Additionally, singer and actor Ahmed Ali Butt has written, produced and directed one of the films.

The telefilms will show on Hum TV from June 5 2010 onwards.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 22nd, 2010.