Renowned Indian screenwriter and poet Javed Akhtar is set to attend the Faiz Festival in Lahore where he will be a part of two discussions with actor Adeel Hashmi, as well as a mushaira with other poets.
The Current spoke to Hashmi about what their discussion will be about and he said:
“Our first talk will be about his book ‘Jadunama’ which was released a few days ago, and will also be available for purchase at the event. Our second talk [taking place on Sunday, 19th Feb, is called ‘Talking Life’ which will be a discussion about life. In the next Mushaira, he will be reading out his poetry.”
Along side Javed Akhtar, many prominent faces are expected to attend the event such as singer Shafqat Amanat Ali who will hold a performance on Friday, as well as Director and Screenwriter Sarmad Khoosat who will hold a conversation with Navid Shahzad.
Faiz Festival is taking place from February 17 to 19 at Alhamra Center.
Tag: faiz festival
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Javed Akhtar set to appear at Faiz Festival
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VIDEO: Viral rendition of poem slammed as being too ‘elitist’
A performance of a poem at the Faiz International Festival in 2019 has gone viral on social media.
The poem, ‘Sarfarsohi Ki Tamanna’ by Bismil Azimabadi was performed by a woman to a charged audience and has been posted multiple times on Twitter. The words are patriotic, written by Azimabadi in 1921 as a war cry for freedom during the British Raj.
The video went viral on social media The poem started trending on social media with the hastag #StudentSolidarityMarch, with students and activists mobilizing people to join the student march on November 29th.
But not everyone was moved by the performance – or the people supporting its cause.
Activist Gulalai Ismail, who fled the country first tweeted that “Cool log hain yar! Bas entertainment tak Mehdood kar dia hai inqilab ko,” and then deleted her tweet, clarifying that:
Gulalai deleted the tweet (above), tweeting an apology later (below) Others also called the students “maraasis” and were defended.
From maarasis to entertainment, the protesters were also seen as being elitist.
Which led activist Ammar Ali Jan to tweet out in support for the students.
For the older generation of activists, it was a reminder of their old and golden days. Senior Journalist Iftikhar Ahmad remembered protesting on the streets of Mall Road, Lahore.
The Student Solidarity March is being held on November 29th.
Follow The Current for its coverage of the events leading up to the Student Solidarity March, their demands and the March itself.
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Celebrities, including Mahira Khan, will be at the Faiz Festival this weekend
The Faiz International Festival is in its 5th year and like previous years, celebrities are flocking to the event. The three-day festival will take place at Alhamra in Lahore.
Mahira Khan at the Faiz International Festival in 2016 The event will kick off on Friday with a performance by Ali Sethi and a play dedicated to Asma Jehangir by Ajoka Theatre. There will also be an exhibition of History and Contemporary Sikh Art as part of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations.
Celebrities like Mahira Khan, Ahsan Khan, Eman Suleman and Nimra Bucha will be part of sessions as will be journalists Hamid Mir, Nasim Zehra and Wusutullah Khan. Politicians like PTI’s Asad Umar and Yasmin Rashid and PPP’s Shazia Marri and Raza Rabbani will also be attending.
The sessions The Current is looking forward to are:
Stardom with Responsibility with Mahira Khan, Sarmat Khoosat and Mira Hashmi on Sunday at 3PM
Siyasi Pabandion Kay Door Mai Azad Sahafat with Hamid Mir, Nasim Zehra, Wusutullah Khan and Wajahat Masood on Saturday at 3 PM
Using Media to address Social Issues with Ahsan Khan, Roshanah Zafar and Seemi Raheel on Saturday at 1 PM
Pakistan: The Way Forward with Dr Yasmin Rashid, Raza Rabbani, Nafisa Shah, Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Afrasiab Khattak and Dr Malik Baloch on Sunday at 2 PM
The sessions are all free except for Zia Mohyeddin, Ali Sethi, Adeel Hashmi and Farah Yasmeen’s performances.
