Sindhi Film Festival Begins In Sindhology

The speakers including legendary movie icons of Pakistan film industry Monday spell out strong optimism for revival and bright future of Sindhi film industry in the country and abroad.

HYDERABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2018 ) :The speakers including legendary movie icons of Pakistan film industry Monday spell out strong optimism for revival and bright future of Sindhi film industry in the country and abroad.

They said this at the inauguration ceremony of four-day Sindhi film festival on the theme "Past, Present and Future of Sindhi Films" organized by the Institute of Sindhology University of Sindh at Shaikh Ayaz auditorium Faculty of Arts of the varsity.

The Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat presided over the seminar while Sindh Minister for education, Culture and Tourism Seyd Sardar Ali Shah was the chief guest.

Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat welcoming the provincial minister Syed Sardar Shah, Pakistan's film giant Mustafa Qureshi and legendary producer Syed Noor, said that he saw potential prospects of restoration and rebirth of glory of Sindhi films.

"I reckon this seminar a pebble in the stagnant waters of Sindhi films that ruled cinema form 1951 to 1997, a period between which 83 stunning Sindhi movies were produced and screened to the immeasurable delight of viewers. This seminar has raised points that will certainly culminate into revival of this rich industry," the Vice Chancellor said.

Sindh Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah while welcoming Mustafa Qureshi's proposal announced for establishment of Sindh Film Development Corporation (SFDC) there and then, saying shortly a meeting in this regard would be called to chart future course of action.

He said Institute of Sindhology should assume the responsibility of bridging between film men and provincial government to materialize the given project effectively.

Matchless film star Mustafa Qureshi proposed establishment of Sindh Film Development Corporation (SFDC) adding that by proper government interest, patronage by affluent social class and struggle by people who had films as their first love; the Sindhi film industry could retrieve its lost glory.

Eminent film producer Syed Noor said he was ecstatic to have received so much abundant love at the varsity as he had.

"I am simply stunned to know about rich and magnificent past of Sindhi film industry. And I must not hesitate in admitting that I have found it to be far better in many ways even from Punjabi movies" Syed Noor said and assured that he would do all at his command and disposal to help Sindhi films regain their original position.

Noted scholar Mehtab Akbar Rashdi emphasized the need for generation of market in Sindh, Pakistan and the countries abroad with palpable presence of Sindhi Diaspora.

Columnist and radio anchor Naseer Mirza, Television Producer Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Solangi and famous film Journalist Syed Fida Hussain Shah read papers on various technical and creative aspects of Sindhi movies.

On the occasion, appreciation shields were awarded to individuals who had one way or the other contributed to the development and promotion of Sindhi films at various points of time in the past.

A comprehensive documentary prepared by Pakistan Television veteran producer Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Solangi outlining history of Sindhi films was screened.

Students of the Department of Media and Communication Studies University of Sindh also presented a mime on one of the most popular track from a famous Sindhi film which enthralled the audience to the point of swaying and swooning.

The galaxy of luminaries present on the occasion also unveiled at Institute of Sindhology popular Sindhi folk singer 'Allan Faqir' and inaugurated there Radio Sindhology Service.

The prominent figures who attended the event included eminent actor and Sindhi film producer Syed Yar Muhammad Shah, Secretary Culture Muhammad Akbar Laghari, KTN artists Najma Kawish, Shahnawaz Bhatti, Uroosa Ali, writer Mumtaz Bukhari, Mansoor Sitai and Prof. Qalandar Shah.

The festival will continue for another three days featuring screening of popular Sindhi movies and discussion of various facets of Sindhi films.