The number of cultural events organised in Lahore this past week were less than the usual weekly output. A new exhibition of paintings was opened at Nairang Galleries and the three-week long exhibition at Shakir Ali Museum continued during the reporting period. A couple of functions were held at Lahore Arts Council to celebrate the success at box office of a locally produced movie and to present concert of jazz and Pakistani music. The Nairang Galleries in Lahore played hosts to the opening on May 3 of an eleven-day exhibition of five Karachi-based artists, which was attended by a sizeable number of art lovers, media persons and students of arts.
The artists whose works were put on display were Mansoor Aye, Kazim Ali, Abrar Ahmed, S. Ghalib Baqar and G.N. Qazi The Punjab provincial Secretary of Culture and Youth Affairs was the chief guest at the informal opening. Nayyar Ali Dada, a renowned architect of Pakistan, is the driving force behind the planning and holding of cultural activities at Nairang Galleries, whose name and reputation attract art lovers to the rather newer galleries of Lahore.
The Galleries has a well- stocked music section, where recordings of old maestros and young artistes are played for the listening pleasure of the visitors. Also, a sizeable number of quality books on music and other arts are available for the use of those who wish to spend a few hours at the quiet and cozy environment of Nairang Galleries.
In the recent past a number of exhibitions and book launchings were held at the galleries, which caught the attention of both the print and electronic media. Over 50 paintings of 25 artists from Lahore continued to attract inquisitive and discerning visitors at an exhibition arranged at the Shakir Ali Museum. Sponsored by Pakistan National Council of the Arts, the exhibition comprised works of students as well as teachers of arts, mostly from National College of Arts, which formed a rare show of works to project the talent of junior and senior painters at the same time.
The exhibition also included works of Naqsh School of Art, an institute run on non-profit basis from within the confines of old Walled City of Lahore. A large number of art lovers visiting the exhibition at Shakir Ali Museum admired the works produced by the students, which nearly matched in quality the output of their seniors that focused on landscape, calligraphy and miniature art.
The Punjab Lok Sanjh last week sponsored a meeting to commemorate the sacrifices made by the people of the Punjab in their struggle for freedom and also to pay homage to the martyrs of Jillianwala Bagh, who were murdered by British colonial troops. The function was arranged at Kissan Hall where a standing-room-only audience listened to the speeches made by senior politicians, literati and media persons.
Comedian Omar Sharif hosted a promotional function arranged by a local TV channel at the Lahore Arts Council on May 5, which was organised to celebrate the success at the book office of director-actor Ajab Gul's movie 'Kyon tum se itna pyar hai'. A majority of members of the cast was there to talk about their roles in the film. The two-hour long presentation was interspersed with puns and jokes of the compere who is known for his sharp wits and skill at repartees.
Kim Entertainment, a UK-based company organised a music concert at the Lahore Arts Council on May 6 to contribute their share to the efforts for peace made by the people of Pakistan and India. Artistes, who participated in a kind of jam session included Humaira Arshad and Jazz B, Manak E, B21, E=Mc, popular singing sensations from Canada and the United Kingdom.
Pakistan is one of top ten countries of the world in which pirated Compact Discs (CDs) are manufactured and sold openly without any fear of accountability. One can find tonnes of pirated CDs featuring films and music, which can be purchased for a small price. Film industries of the United States and India are the major sufferers as a consequence of massive piracy of their products in Pakistani markets, which paradoxically also adversely affect the already downhill Pakistan film industry. Is government fully aware of the magnitude of these violations of others' intellectual property rights of others?
Through a notification issued by the Home Department, the Government of Punjab has banned five artistes from performing in the play "Yes Madam" for their alleged vulgar gesticulations during their performances. The names of the banned artistes are Saima Khan, Akram Rahi, Afzal Bobby, Aamra Mumtaz and Tahir Anjum. The government has accused them of violating and transcending the approved script of the play and using vulgar and suggestive language in addition to presenting objectionable and amorous dances.
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