Ustad Noor Bakhsh’s soulful banjo tunes bring audience to their feet at World Culture Festival

On the eighth day of the World Culture Festival 2025 at the Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP), Karachi, audiences enjoyed film screenings, an art workshop and a multinational theatrical performance ‘Conference of the Birds’, along with a captivating musical session by renowned Baloch musician Ustad Noor Bakhsh, whose banjo melodies set the crowd dancing.

Addressing the attendees, ACP Karachi President Muhammad Ahmed Shah said: “You must spread the spirit of this festival to others. Tell those who deal in hatred that the people of Karachi are full of life and love.

“On the eighth day, we presented a theatrical piece inspired by Fariduddin Attar’s poetry, featuring artists from six different countries performing together under one roof. Hosting such a festival is both an honour and a great responsibility for us.”

The day also featured the screening of a Pakistani film ‘Chikkar’, which revolves around themes of environmental and class struggle in rural Pakistan. During a post-screening discussion moderated by Umair Ahmed Khan, director Syed Zaheeruddin and actor Usman Mukhtar shared insights into the film.

Zaheeruddin said: “We tried to merge documentary and fiction in this project. ‘Chikkar’ was a serious film, yet audiences laughed, so imagine what will happen when we make a comedy. We must overcome our fear of experimentation.”

Mukhtar said: “It will take time for such messages to spread, but more films like ‘Chikkar’ should be made. These are issues our society needs to address.” An art workshop titled ‘Men with the Pen’ was also held, featuring Comorian painter Yaz and Tanveer Farooqi, who taught students various painting techniques. Yaz also painted a portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which became a highlight of the day.

A theatre performance ‘Conference of the Birds’, directed by American theatre artist Wendy Jehlen, featured talented performers from the USA, Iran, Türkiye, Palestine, Indonesia, France and Benin. The play was inspired by the timeless Sufi poem by Attar, symbolising unity, diversity and the collective human journey.

The evening concluded with a vibrant musical performance by Ustad Noor Bakhsh, whose soulful banjo tunes brought the audience to their feet. The atmosphere of the ACP resonated with a fusion of Sindhi and Baloch cultural music, marking yet another memorable day of the World Culture Festival.