Shabnam speaks at GCU-ORU Literary Festival

Festival ends after interaction with actress

LAHORE: Ravians’ Literary Festival concluded at the Government College University (GCU) with a session, “An Interaction with Shabnam Ghosh”, hosted by noted dramatist Prof Dr Asghar Nadeem Syed.

Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana was the chief guest at the literary festival organised by the GCU’s Old Ravians Union (ORU). Registrar Saboor Ahmed Khan, along with ORU President Qazi Afaq Hossain, welcomed the governor. Legendary actor Mustafa Qureshi also attended the session.

The acclaimed actress Shabnam Ghosh — the poster girl of Lollywood in the 1970s — burst into tears while telling the audience her story of leaving Pakistan and the film industry here.

“It was very painful for me, but I did it for my family, especially my father, who suffered heart attack in Bangladesh while I was in Pakistan,” she said. “I lived and worked almost for three decades in Pakistan, so how could I forget the people who gave me so much love and respect,” Shabnam added.  She feels that the film industry was hit by the 1971 separation. When asked about the Bangladeshi cinema, Shabnam said that was in the same condition as of Pakistani cinema nowadays.” But, she was optimistic about the rival of their film industry, saying that “the new generation is working hard for the cause.”

Shabnam said actors were not very demanding in her times, adding that “there was no concept of five-star hotels as they used to stay in tents most of the time during the outdoor shoots.” Shabnum said her husband, renowned music director Robin Ghosh, was loving, caring and very understanding and he never interfered in her film life, and never asked questions when she to come home late from work.

The Punjab governor lauded the ORU executive committee for holding a vibrant literary festival to apprise the younger generation of their language, literature, art and culture. He was particularly touched by the poetry of Anwar Masood. He believed that the writers mirrored the social and psychological dimensions of contemporary society at a highly creative level.

The festival spread over five literary sessions, including one on the traditions of theatre and drama which was addressed by two legendary television actors Irfan Khoosat and Naeem Tahir. 

The panel stressed the need for eradicating the vulgarity from theatre and fixing its time from 6pm to 8pm and reviving it on the pattern of literary drama which had been staged in institutions like the Government College Lahore since the 19th century.  

Earlier, the festival opened with a session which paid glowing tributes to Bano Qudisa. Poet Yasmeen Hameed, Anees Ahmed, the son of Bano Qudsia, critic Prof Dr Saadat Saeed and Dr Khalid Sinjarni told the students about the great literary works of the towering writer, her inspirational personality and vibrant role she played in strengthening the roots of Urdu literature.

In the third session, eminent director Usman Peerzada, actress Feryal Ali Gauhar and filmmaker Sarmad Khoosat deliberated upon the revival of cinema in Pakistan. The festival concluded with an enthralling poetry session with noted poet Anwar Masood.