Film series at Lok Virsa

Regular screening of classic films attracts movie aficionados

Islamabad

Dr. Fouzia Saeed after taking over Lok Virsa as its executive director enthusiastically planned to expand the cultural activities. She also wanted to bring in a film club with regular screenings of selected Pakistani and International films.

In 2016, when you can watch your favorite film as well as old classics by downloading (notwithstanding piracy) on your computer and now on cell phone, why would anyone miss on watching films in the comfort and convenience of living room and come over to Lok Virsa (unless he or she happens to be a diehard movie enthusiast or movie addict/movie junkie).

The movie ambiance provided by Dr. Fouzia Saeed at Lok Virsa is just not there in our living room. The screenings includes an introduction about the film and film maker. There is full-fledged detailed and long discussion at the end where participants join in and talk in details about the script, production, acting, music and social impact and the personal feelings the film created then(at its release) and now. 

Fouzia Saeed cleverly named the film club Mandwa (which literary means gathering under a tree but the word was more associated with films in the sub-continent).

If all that was not enough, the film enthusiasts coming to Mandwa screenings are now entertained with snacks, tea and above all pop corns. Lok Virsa also invites relevant celebrities from the film trade to grace the occasions. All that makes it worth to watch movies at Lok Virsa every Saturday free of cost.

Mandwa began with a bang five months back on August 1 with our all-time classic ‘Heer Ranjha’. Actor-Producer-Distributor Ijaz Durrani was there to talk about the production of the film and go down memory lane, recalling contributions of cast and crew who collaborated and turned ‘Heer Ranjha’ into the most celebrated film of 1970. He was joined by director-screenwriter Syed Noor.

‘Heer Ranjha’ was followed by Bicycle Thief (Italian neo-realism classic from 1948), ‘Kartar Singh’, The Motorcycle Driver, ‘Armaan’, (renowned billboard painter Khalid Butt was invited from Rawalpindi to paint Zeba and Waheed Murad live before the enthusiastic audiences), Children of Heave (Award winning jewel by Majid Majidi from Iran), ‘Andaleeb’ (TV and film artist Samina Ahmad was there to recall the making of film). It was time to add Pushto film to the collection. Pakistan's first Pushto film ‘Yousaf Khan Sher Bano’ (1970) became part of Mandwa. There may not be any commercial cinemas in Saudi Arabia but film was produced there last year about a girl desperately wanting a bicycle and film Wadja was screened. Next came a low-budget ‘Darshan’ from Dhaka showing when life in the mid-sixties was simple yet filled with melodies. The Son from Belgium/France showed serious side of life. ‘Pardesi’ represented our Sindhi cinema with a song popping up every ten minutes. It was fun to watch and hear so many songs and dances wrapped up in two hours. More music came with ‘Ghunghat’ and musical notes described by composer Wazir Afzal in person on ‘Ghunghat’ and musical mastery of Khursheed Anwar. The other titles which graced Mandwa before the year ended included The Willow Tree (Iran), ‘Mastana Mahi’ (Adil Murad came over from Karachi to talk about his father Waheed Murd) and ‘Koel’. 2016 started with Italian Oscar and Cannes winner Cinema Paradiso, bringing tears in many eyes. It was moving account of a child who wants to be a cinema projectionist during World War II. Made with brilliant cinematic intelligence and intellect, it was one of the best films seen in several years.

The second film of 2016 screening today (Saturday) at 3 pm is producer GA Gul and director Sharif Nayyar's ‘Naila’ from 1965. Based on Razia Butt's bestseller, ‘Naila’ is still remembered as one of the most expensive melodramas from the sixties. Shamim Ara and Santosh kumar in their first colour film, added grace and glamour to our screen. Composer Master Inayat Hussain, lyricists Qateel Shifai, Himayar Ali Shair and playback singers Mala and Masood Rana hit top of the charts with almost half-a dozen sweet melodies: ‘Tarapna bhi hamey aata hai tarpana bhi aata hai’, ‘Mujhey arzoo thi jis kis wo payam aa gaya hai’, ‘Jaa aur mohabat ker pagli’, ‘Dour veernay mey eik shama hai roashan kab sey’ and ‘Koi pyar ka fasana gori piya ko sunao abhi diya na bujhao bari raat paari hai’. Director Sharif Nayyar has been one of our most selective directors who made only handful of films during his entire career of seventy years (‘Mehfil’, ‘Masoom’, ‘Ishq per Zoar Nahi’, ‘Naaz’ and ‘Dosti’).