World Culture Festival 2025 Features Diverse Artistic Showcase

By Aziz Khatri

  KARACHI: The 27th day of the World Culture Festival 2025 was a vibrant celebration of the arts, showcasing a music workshop, film screenings, a film discussion session, and two compelling theatre plays. Notable highlights included “Jaun Aur Main,” a production by renowned Pakistani playwright Peerzada Salman, and “Kawaida Nzuri,” a theatrical piece from Uganda.

day commenced with an engaging music workshop led by U.S.-based musician Rizwan Jagani. Esteemed figures in the arts, such as President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi (ACP) Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Ahsan Bari, and Ustad Mahmood Khan, participated, alongside numerous enthusiastic students. Jagani captivated attendees with modern techniques on the viola, emphasizing the enjoyment of playing while detailing the instrument's performance intricacies. “Playing viola is fun for me,” he remarked, underlining the importance of proper playing techniques. Alongside Jagani, talented students Kazim and Samreen from the ACP Music Academy performed, adding to the dynamic atmosphere.

A film screening segment, titled “Francophone African Features,” captivated audiences with short films from Morocco, Nepal, and the Ivory Coast. Featured films included “Amlan,” directed by OHOUOT ASSI GILBERT PHILIPPE, “Wound of the Past” from Moroccan director Ziyad Chejai, and the Nepali film “Siege in the Air.”

A pivotal moment of the festival was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Arts Council of Pakistan and the Travelling Film Festival. President Muhammad Ahmed Shah expressed the deep-rooted friendship between Nepal and Pakistan, stating, “We have officially signed the MoU; the Travelling Film Festival, which takes place worldwide, will now also happen in Pakistan.” Shah highlighted the role of art and culture in fostering connections while advocating for the restoration of direct flights between Pakistan and Nepal to facilitate artistic exchange.

Film South Asia Chairman Kanak Mani Dixit echoed this sentiment, recalling the ease of travel between the two nations in the 1950s. He remarked on the significance of the festival in Karachi and praised the meticulous effort involved in organizing such a large-scale event.

The spotlight then shifted to Peerzada Salman, who presented “Jaun Aur Main,” a gripping exploration of the enigmatic life of legendary Urdu poet Jaun Elia. Salman’s heartfelt storytelling and personal anecdotes from the 1990s left the audience captivated, evoking both nostalgia and engagement.

The day concluded with Uganda’s “Kawaida Nzuri,” directed by Philip Luswata. The play delves into the life of Adrian, a once-revered actor grappling with the relevance of theatre in an age dominated by social media. The powerful performances by Keith Divine, Walter Asiku, Juma Kayondo, Shanitah Akandinda, and Viola Najjuko resonated deeply with attendees.

The World Culture Festival 2025 will continue at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi until December 7, 2025, with renowned singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan scheduled to perform on the closing day. Arts Council members are encouraged to collect free tickets from the Biometric Office at the Ahmed Shah Building from 12 PM to 8 PM.