|FILM| "Khayal Darpan: A Mirror of Imagination(105 min; 2006)" Screening will be followed by a discussion - 23rd December, 2006

Movie Info : A documentary film that explores the classical music traditions of urban Pakistan. The film maker travels through the three main cities – Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad documenting some of the surviving practitioners and patrons of art music and in the process raises many vital questions about cultural identity, nationalism, the legitimacy of music in Islam, Pakistan’s popular culture and its affairs with India etc. The film features some well-known as well as many lesser known but talented musicians of Pakistan.

Origin of the Movie : In 2005, Yousuf Saeed, a filmmaker from Delhi, spent more than 6 months in Pakistan as part of a research fellowship where he surveyed the development of classical music traditions in Pakistan after 1947. After traveling in the 3 main cities of Pakistan – Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad - interviewing musicians and scholars, attending music concerts, and observing the teaching of music in various institutions, Yousuf not only managed to document some of the surviving practitioners and patrons of art music, but also raised many vital questions about cultural identity, nationalism, legitimacy of music in Islam, Pakistan’s popular culture and its affairs with India, and the survival of classical music itself in South Asia. The study resulted in a feature-length documentary film, featuring some well-known as well as many lesser known but talented musicians of Pakistan.
Delhi-based Yousuf Saeed has been making documentary films since 1990 for various channels and organizations on topics ranging from science and technology to arts and culture. His most recent short films Basant, Inside Ladakh, and The Train to Heaven have been shown at various Indian and international film festivals, academic venues and TV channels.

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