World Culture Festival 2025 in Full Swing at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi

By: Aziz Khatri

Theatre Performance “Conference of the Birds” and

Balochi Musician Ustad Noor Bakhsh Captivates the Audience

KARACHI: On the eighth day of the festival, audiences enjoyed film screenings, an art workshop, and the multinational theatrical performance "Conference of the Birds," alongside a captivating musical session by renowned Balochi musician Ustad Noor Bakhsh, whose banjo melodies had the crowd dancing.

Addressing the attendees, President of the Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah stated, “You must spread the spirit of this festival to others. Tell those who promote hatred that the people of Karachi are full of life and love. On this eighth day, we presented a theatrical piece inspired by Farid ud-Din Attar’s poetry, featuring artists from six different countries performing together under one roof. Hosting such a festival is both an honor and a great responsibility for us.”

The day also included the screening of the Pakistani film “Chikkar,” which revolves around themes of environmental and class struggle in rural Pakistan. Following the screening, director Syed Zaheeruddin and actor Usman Mukhtar shared their insights about the film, moderated by Umair Ahmed Khan. Zaheeruddin mentioned, “We tried to merge documentary and fiction in this project. ‘Chikkar’ was a serious film, yet audiences laughed; so, imagine the response when we make a comedy. We must overcome our fear of experimentation.” Usman Mukhtar added, “It will take time for such messages to spread, but more films like ‘Chikkar’ should be made. These are issues our society needs to address.”

An art workshop titled “Men with the Pen” also took place, featuring Comorian painter Yaz and Tanveer Farooqi, who taught students various painting techniques. Yaz painted a portrait of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which became a highlight of the day.

The theatre performance “Conference of the Birds,” directed by American theatre artist Wendy Jehlen, featured talented performers from the USA, Iran, Türkiye, Palestine, Indonesia, France, and Benin. The play was inspired by the timeless Sufi poem by Farid ud-Din Attar, symbolizing unity, diversity, and the collective human journey.

The evening concluded with a vibrant musical performance by Ustad Noor Bakhsh, whose soulful banjo tunes brought the audience to their feet. The atmosphere at the Arts Council resonated with a fusion of Sindhi and Balochi cultural music, marking yet another memorable day of the World Culture Festival 2025.