A large number of male and female students watched the movie ‘A Train Crosses the Desert’ produced and directed by young filmmaker Rahul Aijaz; the movie had been selected and screened at eight International Film Festivals.
Jamshoro
A Train Crosses the Desert, رڻ مان لنگھندڙ ريل گاڏي the internationally acclaimed first ever short Sindhi film, was screened on Thursday at two institutions – The Institute of Art and Design, of Sindh University, and the University of Art and Culture.
The film, produced and directed by Rahul Aijaz, a young filmmaker of Sindh, had so far been screened at eight International Film Festivals since last year- one each in Mexico and Turkey, three in USA, two in India and one in Kazan, Tataristan. It has also been selected for a film festival in South Korea to be held after a month.
In Pakistan, four shows have already been held in Karachi hosted by Arts Coulcil and Sindh Graduates Association Sachal Goth branch in collaboration with Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Chair, University of Karachi and one each by Karachi Press Club and Sindh Madressa University.
In Thursday’s two shows, a large number of male and female students watched the movie with great interest, as for such young generation, it was first ever Sindhi film shown to them. The film enthralled the audience greatly, who admired it a lot.
After the screening of the film, a question-answer session was also held for the students of the institute to further know about the film and its production, the hurdles faced by filmmakers and other technical aspects. Rahul Aijaz spoke on theme of the film and the hardships in filmmaking. “The biggest issue for filmmaking is finance however fortunately this film was funded by Goethe Institute.”
The first show was organized by the Director of Institute of Art & Design Prof. Saeed Ahmed Mangi while the Dean Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr. Syed Javed Iqbal presided over the event. Artist Nadir Ali Jamali, senior journalist Nasir Aijaz, writer & director of the short movie Rahul Aijaz, Prof. Naimatullah and other faculty were present.
“No Sindhi film has been produced during last three decades, except some telefilms, produced by certain private sector Sindhi TV channels. Neither there are cinemas any more in Sindh nor are produced any films,” said Nasir Aijaz, a senior journalist, speaking at the film show at Benazir Bhutto Art Gallery Hall of Institute of Art and Design.
“Hardly one hundred Sindhi movies were produced in country’s history. The Karachi used to be hub of film industry but it gradually it vanished when the film industry shifted to Lahore, but with passage of time even the Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto film industry faced decay,” he said.
Referring to Indian film industry, Nasir Aijaz said they have a number of private financiers but even the banks grant them loans for producing movies. “There also exists a Film Development Corporation that provides funds for producing movies. In Pakistan, National Film Development Corporation was established in 1980s for the same purpose but later was made defunct.”
Again referring to a film festival organized by Institute of Sindhology a couple of years back, wherein Sindh Culture Minister Sardar Shah had announced allocating funds for development of film sector, Nasir Aijaz said minister’s announcement proved just a ‘political statement’ which is never implemented. “The film industry, especially the Sindhi film industry, can develop if the government comes forward and extends financial help to producers and directors. If the film industry is developed, it will absorb a large number of young and talented people of Sindh,” he said.
In his concluding remarks, Dean Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr. Syed Javed Iqbal said that he was elated to know that the short film was screened globally and it had invited the attention of organizers of International Film Festivals.
“Now, getting to showcase Pakistani art in the international arena motivates us even more to continue challenging ourselves to explore form and narrative, to tell thrilling and introspective stories that are rooted in our history and are mindful of our present and our future,” he said.
Director of IAD Prof. Saeed Ahmed Mangi said that the film was of special significance and it was professionally sound, which conveyed the message of love for life.
He said that by showing despair in the film, a lesson had been taught that human beings should not be disappointed at any stage of life, because, he added, disappointment led to failure, and hard work showed the way leading to success.
The second screening at the University of Art and Culture also proved a success, where Vice Chancellor Dr. Hakim Ali Kanasro, Project Director Muhammad Siddique Kaka and Rahul Aijaz addressed while Ms. Abida Parveen conducted the event.
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