The 85th birthday of legendary actor of Indian silver screen Dilip Kumar was celebrated in Lahore by senior television and film actors, who paid glowing tributes to his versatility in histrionics. Born in Peshawar as Yusuf Khan in a Pathan family of 12 children, whose head moved to Bombay as a fruit merchant, he first acted in Bombay Talkies' film Jawar Bhaata in 1945.
He attained stardom with Jugnu two years late and achieved enduring reputation for his naturalist acting, although he at one time claimed to have followed in the footsteps of actor Motilal. According to Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema Dililp Kumar has acted in 63 films of which a large number did roaring business at the box office and carried his name and fame to every nook and cranny of the sub-continent.
Included in his blockbusters were films like Jugnu, Andaaz, Nadiya Kay Paar, Mughal-e-Azam, Ganga-Jamna, Aan, Aarozoo, Madhomati and Naya Daur. The last movie in which he playacted and displayed his ebullient histrionic talent was Saudagar, which was produced in 1991. Since then he is spending his eventful life in retirement.
Rich tributes were also paid but through press statements by members of Lahore based film fraternity to Ilyas Kashmiri, one of the senior actors of Pakistan film industry who breathed his last in the city on December 12 after protracted illness. He had been out of entertainment industry for the last six years. Starting his film career as a hero in producer-director-actor Nazir's film Malika (produced from Bombay in 1946).
Ilyas Kashmiri, returned to his native city Lahore to be signed as a hero in G.A. Gul's Punjabi film Mundri. Later he did all kinds of roles, from hero to comedian to character acting and villain in over 600 Urdu and Punjabi films produced from Lahore studios since 1947. The tragedy of Ilyas Kashmiri was that he died in excruciating circumstances with none from his immediate family or relatives taking care of him. The only person at his death bed was his servant Tahir.
On December 12 textile diploma students from the Punjab University College of Art and Design put up a three-day project exhibition on the college premises in which they displayed their work, showing different techniques like tie & dye, silk painting, batik, weaving, textile designs and sculptures. The participating students told visitors that they had learnt the techniques only during the past eleven months.
Imran Ahmed Khan exhibited his three dimensional work in installations titled "Implode" at the Lahore Arts Council on December 15. It was the first ever solo exhibition of the self-taught artist, who received no formal education but learnt the art by joining a local art gallery as a helper.
Another self-taught artist and poet Wasan Khuarshid also exhibited his sculptures both in wood and stone besides his paintings at the same venue on December 18. He hails from Narda, a place near Attock, and came Lahore to display his creative works.
Designers Saima Hameed and Huma Hameed displayed on December 15 their latest dress collections in a one-day exhibition at a largely-frequented local restaurant, which were viewed by female visitors from all segments of society, who especially appreciated the hand embroidery work creatively done by the two sisters.
The Lahore Arts Council was the venue of the presentation of Ajoka Theatre's popular play "Kala Menda Bhes", which was staged on December 14, Written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by his wife Madeeha Gauhar, the play is based on a real life incident, which took place in a small town of Sindh, where a woman, Sundri was exchanged for an ox. Using the folk theatre style of the Swaang and presented in the backdrop of the Cholistan desert in Southern Punjab , the play revolved around the person of a woman who felt humiliated over the exchange and successfully resolved to prove her worth as a human being.
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