‘Faiz will live forever and rule hearts of young generation’

LAHORE

People from across the country as well as aboard flocked to the Alhamra Arts Council on the second day running on Saturday to be part of the Faiz International Festival 2016, which will conclude on Sunday. 

Artists, poets, politicians, social activists, students, intellectuals, dancers and everyone who have any affinity with Faiz Ahmed Faiz visited the festival. 

Qamar Zaman Kaira, central PPP leader, in his remarks expressed: “Faiz will live forever and rule the hearts of young generation as he had ruled the hearts of the older generation." Talking exclusively to The New, he termed him the Socrates of all generations. 

Sarwat Ali, an intellectual from National College of Arts, covered the topics of songs, ‘naghmon ke sada. He went into detailed history of singing in the subcontinent particularly in Pakistan. Arshad Mahmood and Israr Hussain Chishiti also presented their views on the topic. 

Actor Fawad Khan said with grief in his voice stated: “It is a worrying situation for all of us because there is a great deal of tension between  Pakistan and India. "Some people opposed me in India without naming me. Some opposed by mentioning my name,” he said and added: “I would never forget respect I have earned in India.” He expressed the similar kind of feelings in the session of “Hum aa ge to garmi-e-bazar dekhna”.

In the session that covered ‘Portrayal of women in TV and film’, participants highlighted the role of women on television and in films. Sameena Peerzada, Samiya Mumtaz and Simi Raheel expressed their belief that a great deal of revolution had taken place in script writing since they joined the field. “The story is shown on TV and film now, no one could imagine in the past. Attention and proper training are not given to young generation in this field. Gender is not important rather script has worth. Now, scripts are under the influence of marketing. The script is being prepared now to meet the demands of market,” they pointed out.  

Sameena Peerzda said: “The festival produces a sense of collectiveness. Such kind of festivals should be held in major cities of the country.”

Famous singer Jawwad Ahmed, Ali Noor, Najam Ul Hassan and Arshad Memood questioned the up-building of the young generation and said: “Young generation has been playing with gadgets. They don’t have relations with books. How a Gahlib, Iqbal or Faiz will be born?

Jawwad elaborated his experience on the ‘music of today’ and urgsed young generation to work hard in any field they are in because without hard work desired goals cannot be achieved. He also described the vision of Faiz and highlighted his foresightedness of the present times. 

Later in free performances, a classical eastern music by Tarz Orchestra , a play by the Sngat Theatre Group, dramatic readings by Zambeel, classical musical night with Ustad Hamid Ali khan, a children folk music performance by Lok Virsa and poetry reading by Adeel Hashmi with western classical music on the piano were presented. Abida Parveen and Tina Sani also performed.

The festivity was also attended by Salman Raja, Asad Umar, Asim Sajjad, Shaista Pervaiz Malik etc.