The art of film: ‘NCA’s role in revival of Pakistani cinema is critical’
The screening will continue until January 26.
Mi Raqsam is the first independent non-fictional endeavour exploring different genres of dance in Pakistan. DESIGN: AMNA IQBAL/FILE
LAHORE:
“Pakistani cinema has been unfortunately neglected over the past many years. The role of the National College of Arts in the revival of Pakistani film industry is critical,” NCA Principal Murtaza Jafri said on Wednesday.
He was talking to The Express Tribune on the ongoing display of thesis films at the college auditorium that started on Monday. The screening will continue until January 26.
The thesis films cover a wide variety of themes. Mi Raqsam, a film by Ferooz Faisal, was awarded a distinction. It is the first independent non-fictional endeavour exploring different genres of dance in Pakistan.
“The film features different artists and explores what dance means for them. It explains dancers’ struggles and their take on reviving our culture,” Faisal said.
Murtaza Marri’s Narr Sur was also awarded a distinction. Marri said the documentary film was about Narr Sur, flute music and singing, which was an important feature of Balochi folk music. “Singers can sing breathlessly for almost two to two-and-a-half minutes using pentatonic, tetratonic, tritonic and hexatonic scales at times. This music is very different from other varieties of music in Balochistan.”
Mehmood Mathour’s documentary film Koh-e-Barobar highlighted the achievements of Samina Khayal Baig, the first and the youngest woman in the Islamic world to climb Mount Everest. Mathour’s film was also awarded a distinction.
Jafri said the medium of film was unique in its ability to reach the masses. It was one of the most effective tools of sharing information. He said the Film and TV Department at NCA was a recent addition, but had been producing motivated, creative and hardworking professionals for the past few years. He said that since the department’s inception, the students had won many national and international awards.
The theses were screened before a jury of the Department of Film & TV at NCA at Royal Palm cinema on January 9 and 10. Fourteen students presented their films. The jury panel consisted of Bilal Lashari, Sajjad Gul, Sarmad Khoosat, Armughan Hassan, Naila Bhatti and Pervez Akhtar. The head of department, Majid Saeed Khan, said it was the first time that students had exhibited their work in a cinema.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2014.
“Pakistani cinema has been unfortunately neglected over the past many years. The role of the National College of Arts in the revival of Pakistani film industry is critical,” NCA Principal Murtaza Jafri said on Wednesday.
He was talking to The Express Tribune on the ongoing display of thesis films at the college auditorium that started on Monday. The screening will continue until January 26.
The thesis films cover a wide variety of themes. Mi Raqsam, a film by Ferooz Faisal, was awarded a distinction. It is the first independent non-fictional endeavour exploring different genres of dance in Pakistan.
“The film features different artists and explores what dance means for them. It explains dancers’ struggles and their take on reviving our culture,” Faisal said.
Murtaza Marri’s Narr Sur was also awarded a distinction. Marri said the documentary film was about Narr Sur, flute music and singing, which was an important feature of Balochi folk music. “Singers can sing breathlessly for almost two to two-and-a-half minutes using pentatonic, tetratonic, tritonic and hexatonic scales at times. This music is very different from other varieties of music in Balochistan.”
Mehmood Mathour’s documentary film Koh-e-Barobar highlighted the achievements of Samina Khayal Baig, the first and the youngest woman in the Islamic world to climb Mount Everest. Mathour’s film was also awarded a distinction.
Jafri said the medium of film was unique in its ability to reach the masses. It was one of the most effective tools of sharing information. He said the Film and TV Department at NCA was a recent addition, but had been producing motivated, creative and hardworking professionals for the past few years. He said that since the department’s inception, the students had won many national and international awards.
The theses were screened before a jury of the Department of Film & TV at NCA at Royal Palm cinema on January 9 and 10. Fourteen students presented their films. The jury panel consisted of Bilal Lashari, Sajjad Gul, Sarmad Khoosat, Armughan Hassan, Naila Bhatti and Pervez Akhtar. The head of department, Majid Saeed Khan, said it was the first time that students had exhibited their work in a cinema.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2014.